Knowledge Nugget: BioE3 Policy and Biotechnology — What you need to know for UPSC Exam

In 2018, the question was asked on how activity in the field of biotechnology has benefited the field of biopharma. Thus, knowing about the biotechnology and government policy for the same also becomes important.)

Why in the news?

From active pharmaceutical agents for making key medicines to enzymes needed for developing biofuels and reagents needed for manufacturing biofertilisers, the government under its BioE3 policy plans to set up around 16 biomanufacturing hubs across the country to ensure that India starts making the components for which it is largely dependent on imports. In this context, let’s learn about the BioE3 policy, which recently completed 1 year, and understand how biotechnology can be harnessed for economic development.

Key Takeaways :

1. The Centre launched its BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) policy last year for ‘Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing’. The policy seeks to achieve this by harnessing the power of biotechnology, and developing new manufacturing methods that replicate, or mimic, processes found in natural biological systems. 

2. The BioE3 policy envisages the setting up of several biomanufacturing hubs across India. At these hubs, industry partners and start-ups can establish facilities for producing specialised chemicals, smart proteins, enzymes, functional foods, and other bio-products and services.

3. With the biomanufacturing hubs under the programme, critical ingredients for medicines, reagents needed for various products such as biofuels, bioproteins, and other chemicals for which India depends on imports, will be manufactured within the country. 

4. The hubs will focus on six areas — bio-based chemicals and enzymes, functional foods and smart proteins, precision biotherapeutics, climate resilient agriculture, carbon capture and utilisation, and futuristic marine and space research.

5. The Department of Biotechnology has undertaken a survey to finalise a list of 1,000 such products, which start-ups and companies may develop processes to manufacture within the country.

6. The biomanufacturing hubs will be set up in research institutes, private companies that specialise in a particular form of manufacturing, or near existing knowledge hubs for specific industries.

7. The facilities can be accessed by government and private research institutes, universities, and colleges, along with start-ups and other companies. While the private companies will be charged, mainly to cover the cost of consumables, human resources, and other overhead charges.

8. As per its policy, the start-ups will be charged a maximum of 5% over the actual costs while companies may be charged up to 15% over the cost. The policy also states that the facility will not claim any intellectual property rights.

Potential Benefits of Biotechnology

1. Biotechnology, the science of modifying biological organisms and processes to develop desired products or applications, is a vast and diverse field. It includes areas such as genomics, genetic engineering, synthetic biology, bioinformatics, gene therapy, etc.

2. Knowledge in these areas has been used to find cures for genetic disorders or develop new varieties of plants that, for example, have special desirable traits. So far, biotechnology-based solutions have been applied largely in the fields of medical science and agriculture.

3. However, recent breakthroughs in gene editing technologies, protein synthesis, or the ability to grow specific enzymes using genetically modified microorganisms, coupled with increased data processing capabilities and the use of artificial intelligence, have opened up new possibilities for biotechnology.

4. Traditional products such as synthetic clothes, plastics, meat or milk, and fuel can have more environment-friendly alternatives, produced using modern biology. Similarly, several chemical processes in the industry can be replaced by organic and less polluting biological processes.

5. Chemically produced traditional plastics, which are a major environmental hazard, can be substituted by a range of bioplastics such as polylactic acid that are biodegradable. These bioplastics are made from renewable and recyclable biological materials like corn starch or sugarcane, and not from hydrocarbons that are the source for traditional plastics.

6. Micro-organisms such as some kinds of bacteria and algae can also be used for capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a critical bioprocess in times of climate change.

7. In the field of synthetic biology, novel organisms with specific characteristics or biochemicals like proteins and enzymes can be designed from scratch to perform desired functions. Using a process called organogenesis or organ engineering, organs can be grown in laboratories. This can eliminate the dependence on donors for organ transplants.

8. The potential of biotechnology is just beginning to unfold. While some alternatives like animal-free milk are already commercially available in a few markets, most of the technologies are still under development. In a few years, these technologies are expected to transform the economy and existing processes.

BEYOND THE NUGGET:  Vigyan Dhara

1. The Union Cabinet last year merged several existing science promotion programmes being run by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under a new initiative called Vigyan Dhara. 

2. Vigyan Dhara, a central sector scheme, merges several existing DST schemes including the INSPIRE programme that works to attract young talent to science research.

The Union Cabinet decided to merge several existing science promotion programmes being run by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under a new initiative called Vigyan Dhara. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

3. Vigyan Dhara has three broad components — human and institutional capacity building, research and development, innovation and technology development, and also deployment. 

4. On the biotechnology side, the new initiative aims to support innovation-driven research and development across six thematic areas. 

(i) The first will focus on bio-chemicals, bio-enzymes, and bio-polymers, which will mainly have industrial, consumer, and scientific applications.

(ii) The second pillar will focus on developing functional foods that can complement land-based food production, thereby reducing pressure on land resources.

(iii) The third will focus on bio-therapeutics. 

(iv) The fourth will focus on agriculture, supporting development of bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides. 

(v) The fifth will focus on developing bio-fuels and bio-chemicals, especially those that are developed from captured carbon emissions. 

(vi) The last area was marine and space application to focus on developing products from marine ecosystems.

Post Read Question

The Centre unveiled its BioE3 policy to harness the power of biotechnology. The E3 refers to:

1. Energy

2. Employment

3. Environment

4. Economy

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 1, 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 3 and 4 only

(Sources: Centre’s new BioE3 policy: How can biotechnology be harnessed for economic development?,  To boost research, Cabinet clears Vigyan Dhara, biotech initiatives, Govt plans to cut down on imports of pharma agents, biofuel enzymes)

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