Tracing Change: The Indian Biotechnology Industry

byLakshmi Mitter

Biotechnology refers to the use of engineering and biological sciences to create new products from biological materials. These new products include vaccines, food and pest-resilient cotton. In India, the sector started to gain recognition in 1986. India was one of the first countries to have a separate department for this stream of science and technology. Though there were hiccups along the way, this industry has grown to be one of the most essential and promising industries in India. LAKSHMI MITTER throws light on the industry.

Tracing Change: The Indian Biotechnology Industry

Biotechnology is said to be as old as human civilisation. Traditional biotechnology is used in our households on a daily basis, such as when we make curd and cheese from milk using fermentation. However, there was little understanding of the mechanisms that led to the new products. Hence there was a