This course is being offered through the ‘Global Initiative of Academic Networks’ (GIAN) program to promote collaboration with international universities, say sources from IIT Madras.

Content

The course deals with sustainable biomanufacturing of high-value plant-derived natural products using plant and microbial bio-factories, which can also conserve nature while fulfilling the increasing market demand for phytochemicals for various commercial applications.

Applicants are expected to have a basic knowledge of plant cell and microbial technology and fermentation, say sources from IIT Madras.

The course will be taught from 2nd to 14th December 2024. Further details can be obtained from the following link – https://shorturl.at/23b9H

Research

It will address the need for fundamental research on the identification of biosynthetic pathways and modern approaches that allow their acceleration.

It will also address new developments in plant biotechnology approaches of rationally integrating bioprocess and metabolic engineering principles to maximize the yield of high-value phytochemicals from plant and yeast cell biofactories for economic feasibility in these bioprocesses, say sources from IIT Madras.

Objective

The objective of this course is to introduce to the participants, current state-of-the-art available technologies to sustainably produce high-value plant metabolites (phytochemicals like drugs and cosmetics) as an alternative to natural plant extraction and total chemical synthesis, say sources from IIT Madras.

These techniques are based on the application of plant and microbial cell technology called ‘cell factory’ for sustainable biomanufacturing of phytochemicals.

Need

Prof. Smita Srivastava, Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, IIT Madras highlighted the need for such courses.

For India to tap on the growing demand for plant based natural products and phytochemicals in the domestic as well as global market, and to become a global biomanufacturing hub in this niche segment.

It is imperative to work around three pillars including Capacity building, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in this specialised domain, said Prof Smita of IIT Madras.

She further said such short-courses can be extremely useful to create awareness and interest among the budding researchers, industry professionals and entrepreneurs.

It can also pave way to developing such sustainable technologies for huge socio-economical impact both nationally and internationally, she said.

Thus, the development of technologies for production of active ingredients of plant origin, such as anticancer drugs, as alternatives to growing plants in fields, and as part of a sustainable development approach, is becoming one of the major challenges of the coming decade, she said.

She further said the course offered aims to lay the foundation and concept of emerging biotechnologies capable of meeting these challenges.

They will also demonstrate the power of international cooperation in the development of such projects and may stimulate the interest of experienced researchers or those at the dawn of their careers as well as industrialists to engage in this path of research or business development, she said.

GoI Approved

The Government of India approved ‘Global Initiative of Academic Networks’ (GIAN) in Higher Education is designed to tap the talent pool of scientists and entrepreneurs, internationally.

It is aimed to encourage their engagement with the institutes of Higher Education in India so as to augment the country’s existing academic resources, accelerate the pace of quality reform, and elevate India’s scientific and technological capacity to global excellence.

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Designed to monitor the freshness of seafood in real-time by responding to pH changes, the film offers a practical solution for improving food safety and reducing waste.

This film detects the release of volatile amines, compounds typically associated with spoilage, and indicates food quality through visible color changes, say sources from NIT Rourkela.

These natural components make the film biodegradable, safe, and responsive, aligning with sustainability goals and offering a non-invasive way to assess seafood freshness.

Findings

The findings of this research have been published in the journal Food Packaging and Shelf Life in a paper co-authored by Prof. Preetam Sarkar (as the lead corresponding author), along with his research scholars, Mr. Rahul Thakur, Miss Harshi Singhi, Mr. Vedsagar Rajesh Suryavanshi, and Dr. Ravichandran Santhosh.

Other co-authors in this work include Dr. Khalid Gul from NIT Rourkela, Dr. Swarup Roy from Lovely Professional University, Dr. Srinivas Janaswamy from South Dakota State University, Brookings, USA and Dr. Kirtiraj K. Gaikwad from IIT Roorkee.

Fishing

India is the world’s second-largest fish-producing nation, contributing approximately 8% of global fish production, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

It also holds the distinction of being the top five producer of shrimp globally, with frozen shrimp being the top export commodity.

Given the scale and importance of seafood production, innovations that ensure freshness and reduce spoilage are of immense value, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

In this context, intelligent packaging systems, which preserve food while monitoring its quality, are rapidly gaining global interest.

Unlike conventional packaging that serves merely as a protective barrier, the intelligent packaging film developed by NIT Rourkela team offers visual cues about the product’s condition, making it a promising solution for enhancing food safety and reducing waste.

The beetroot peel extract was prepared separately, and then combined with the starch, gum tragacanth, and a small amount of glycerol to cast the films.

These were dried and tested for their pH-sensitivity and effectiveness in monitoring seafood freshness, said Prof Preetam of NIT Rourkela.

Pigments

Beetroot peels contain betalains, a group of pigments known for their bright colours and pH sensitivity, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

These pigments also offer antioxidant and antimicrobial benefits, making them suitable for food-related applications.

Incorporating these natural compounds into the starch-based film creates a biodegradable, safe, and responsive packaging material.

When the seafood begins to spoil and pH levels rise, the film changes colour, providing a clear visual indicator of freshness.

Starch

The choice of Kodo millet starch and gum tragacanth contributes to the film’s biodegradable and eco-friendly profile.

Kodo millet is an underutilised grain with excellent film-forming properties, while gum tragacanth enhances the mechanical strength and flexibility of the material.

The researchers believe that using such agricultural by-products not only supports sustainability but also adds value to food processing waste, such as beetroot peels.

At the laboratory scale, the cost of producing the film was estimated approximately Rs. 900 per kilogram.

When scaled up for industrial production, the cost is projected to range between Rs. 400 and Rs. 600 per kilogram, making it a potentially viable option for commercial use.

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