Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Science and Technology addresses questions regarding the BioE3 Biotechnology Policy, experiments on microalgae, and the ICGEB Biofoundry. The BioE3 policy, approved in August 2024, aims to bolster biotechnology innovation. Experiments on microalgae and cyanobacteria explore their potential for space applications. The ICGEB Biofoundry contributes to biotechnology product development across multiple sectors.
Key Points / Main Content:
BioE3 Biotechnology Policy:
* Approved in August 2024 to support innovation in six thematic sectors and entrepreneurship.
* Aims to accelerate technology development and commercialization through Biomanufacturing, BioAI hubs, and Biofoundries.
* Promotes sustainable and circular practices to address climate change, food security, and human health.
* Builds a resilient biomanufacturing ecosystem for bio-based product development.
Microalgae and Cyanobacteria Experiments:
* Experiments conducted on the International Space Station (ISS) using *Chlorella sorokinianaI*, *ParachlorellakessleriI*, and *Dysmorphococcus globosusHI* to study microgravity impact.
* Experiments also conducted on *Spirulina* and *Synechococcus* strains using nitrate and urea as nitrogen sources.
* Microalgae can capture CO2 and produce nutrients in space.
* Cyanobacteria can recycle C and N for biological life support systems in space missions.
ICGEB Biofoundry:
* Serves as a hub for interdisciplinary collaborations in microbial synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, genetic engineering, and biomanufacturing.
* Catalyzes scientific breakthroughs and economic growth by providing access to technology, expertise, and resources.
* Operates on the Design, Build, Test, and Learn (DBTL) model, utilizing AI, big data, and machine learning.
* Can handle bacteria and yeast as microbial platforms.
* Production capacity of up to 20 L scale.
Biotechnology Product Development:
* The Biofoundry facilitates the development of products for the food, agriculture, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and energy sectors.
* Aims to achieve higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) and facilitate technology transfer to industries.
* Promotes innovation, startups, entrepreneurship, education, training, and collaborations.
Impact Analysis:
Government of India:
* Impact: Achieving policy objectives related to biotechnology, bio-manufacturing, and sustainability.
* Action Required: Continue to support and monitor the implementation of the BioE3 policy and the activities of the ICGEB Biofoundry.
Researchers and Scientists:
* Impact: Access to cutting-edge technology, resources, and collaborative opportunities for advancing biotechnology research and development.
* Action Required: Utilize the Biofoundry and other resources to conduct research, develop innovative solutions, and contribute to the advancement of biotechnology.
Entrepreneurs and Startups:
* Impact: Opportunities for developing and commercializing bio-based products, accessing funding, and receiving support for business development.
* Action Required: Engage with the Biofoundry and other relevant institutions to develop business plans, secure funding, and commercialize innovative biotechnologies.
Industry Stakeholders (Food, Agriculture, Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Energy):
* Impact: Access to new technologies and products, potential for improving production processes, and opportunities for collaboration and technology transfer.
* Action Required: Explore opportunities for collaboration with the Biofoundry and other institutions to adopt new technologies and improve the sustainability of their operations.
Key Entities Referenced
BioE3 Biotechnology for Economy, Environment Employment Policy: A government policy approved in August 2024 to support research and development and entrepreneurship in biotechnology, focusing on thematic sectors and technology commercialization.
Department of Biotechnology (DBT): A department under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, responsible for promoting biotechnology research and development.
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB): An international organization with a center in New Delhi, supported by the Department of Biotechnology, focused on genetic engineering and biotechnology research.
New Delhi: Location of the ICGEB Biofoundry within the policy text.
Chlorella sorokinianaI: A robust microalgal species experimented on the International Space Station (ISS) to study the impact of microgravity and CO2/O2 levels.
Spirulina: An Indian isolate of cyanobacteria experimented for their growth on two different nitrogen sources nitrate and urea in the microgravity conditions provided by the ISS.
Synechococcus: A very fastgrowing cyanobacteria strain experimented for their growth on two different nitrogen sources nitrate and urea in the microgravity conditions provided by the ISS.
Sidhi Lok Sabha Constituency: A parliamentary constituency where the use of fertilizer was assessed, though not directly related to the core elements of the policy.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 579
ANSWERED ON 23-07-2025
BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment) Policy
579. Shri Jashubhai Bhilubhai Rathva:
Dr. Rajesh Mishra:
Shri Damodar Agrawal:
Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai:
Shri Naba Charan Majhi:
Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) the key objectives and features of the BioE3 Biotechnology Policy and the manner in which
this policy is helping India to take a leadership role in biotechnology research and innovation;
(b) the details of experiments conducted on microalgae and blue-green algae like Spirulina and
Synechococcus along with their role in space nutrition, oxygen production and waste recycling;
(c) the significance of the Department of Biotechnology - International Centre for Genetic
Engineering and Biotechnology recently inaugurated in New Delhi and the manner in which it
contributes to the Design-Build-Test-Learn cycle;
(d) the manner in which it contribute to the development of biotechnology products for sectors
like food, agriculture, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and energy; and
(e) the outcomes of the use of this fertilizer in Sidhi Lok Sabha Constituency?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY & EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. JITENDERA SINGH)
(a) The Union Cabinet has approved BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment &
Employment) policy in August, 2024 to augment innovation-driven support to R&D and
entrepreneurship in 6 thematic sectors and accelerate technology development and
commercialization by establishing Biomanufacturing & Bio-AI hubs and Biofoundry. The
policy is enabling industrialization of biology to promote sustainable and circular practices
to address some of the critical societal issues-such as climate change mitigation, food
security and human health. The policy is also building a resilient biomanufacturing
ecosystem in our nation to accelerate cutting-edge innovations for developing bio-based
products.(b) Three indigenous robust microalgal species namely, Chlorella sorokiniana-I,
Parachlorellakessleri-I and Dysmorphococcus globosus-HI, were experimented on the
International Space Station (ISS) to study the impact of microgravity, CO and O levels
2 2
simultaneously in space and on the Earth (indoor lab). In the second experiment, two
cyanobacteria strains i.e., an Indian isolate of Spirulina, and a very fast-growing
Synechococcus strain were also experimented for their growth on two different nitrogen
sources nitrate and urea in the microgravity conditions provided by the ISS. These
microalgae have the potential to function effectively in microgravity environments and grow
fast on Earth to produce value-added products of industrial importance, while in space,
capturing excess CO from the ISS cabin and making vital nutrients and food supplements to
2
support the astronauts’ lives in space. On the other hand, the cyanobacteria experiment is
expected to demonstrate the ability of cyanobacteria to recycle both C and N and will be an
important progress towards developing cyanobacteria-based biological life support systems
for futuristic space missions.
(c) The Department of Biotechnology-supported Biofoundry for microbial biomanufacturing
will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary collaborations, research, and development in the
fields of microbial synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, genetic engineering, and
biomanufacturing. The ICGEB Biofoundry will catalyse scientific breakthroughs, drive
economic growth, and address key healthcare, agriculture, and environmental sustainability
challenges by providing access to cutting-edge technology, expertise, and resources for
microbial biomanufacturing. Biofoundry will operate on the principle of Design, Build, Test
and Learn (DBTL) model. The Design component of Biofoundry includes the use of AI, big
data, computational biology, and bioinformatics, as well as specific domain knowledge for
the DNA sequence, pathway analysis, host selection, and experimental design. The Build
component of the Biofoundry includes DNA assembly, combinatorial assembly, and
organism transformation. This would be followed by the Test component, which would
include screening of the transformants, analysis of the products and optimization of the
pathways. Finally, the Learn component of Biofoundry would analyse the outcomes of the
experiment and use machine learning for further optimization of the pathway.
(d) The Biofoundry established at ICGEB, New Delhi, will be able to handle bacteria and yeast
as microbial platforms and produce products used in food, agriculture, chemicals, drugs and
energy sectors. It has a production capacity of up to 20 L scale to achieve higher Technology
Readiness Level (TRL) and for convenient transfer of technology to the industries. It will
facilitate innovation, promote startups, foster entrepreneurship, advance education and
training and foster collaborations
(e) This part of the question does not corelate with the part (a) to (d) above.
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