MOHALI — Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated India’s first-of-its-kind “Green Forge” Complex at the BRIC-National Agri-Food & Biomanufacturing Institute (BRIC-NABI) in Mohali, Punjab.
Speaking at the National Conclave on BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment), Dr. Singh characterized the advanced facility as a milestone in the nation’s genetically modified (GM) crop revolution, bridging agri-biotechnology with AI-driven simulation and scalable biomanufacturing.
Key Highlights of the Event
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Advanced Environmental Simulation: The Green Forge facility houses specialized simulation chambers capable of precisely controlling light quality, temperature, and humidity, allowing researchers to evaluate GM crop adaptability before field deployment.
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National BioE3 Infrastructure Expansion: India is establishing 22 manufacturing hubs and eight specialized Biofoundry facilities across the National Bio-Foundry Network to support start-ups, SMEs, and commercial researchers scaling up over 50 process innovations.
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Bioeconomy Growth Milestone: Dr. Singh noted India’s bioeconomy has expanded rapidly from USD 10 billion to USD 200 billion, propelled by private-sector collaboration and industry-ready translation of research.
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Agri-Waste Value Addition & CCU: BRIC-NABI’s integration of bioprocess engineering focuses on converting agricultural waste into high-value biomaterials and nutraceuticals. Concurrently, the Department of Biotechnology is backing 38 Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) projects to curb cement and steel industry emissions.
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Institutional Clustering Call: Recommended establishing a multidisciplinary research cluster in the Chandigarh-Mohali region—connecting biotechnology, medical, agricultural, and pharmaceutical institutions to drive interdisciplinary innovation aligned with Net Zero 2070 and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
