India is launching a new biomanufacturing policy, called BioE3, to drive the next industrial revolution and address food, energy, and climate issues. The policy, approved by the Union Cabinet, aims to boost innovation in creating bio-based products like biodegradable plastics, biofuels, and medicines.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had earlier introduced a scheme to support bio-manufacturing and bio-foundries. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, during a media briefing in Delhi emphasised that India wants to lead in this new industrial era, unlike the semiconductor industry which arrived late in India. The BioE3 policy is part of India’s plan to become a developed nation by 2047.
Biomanufacturing uses biological sources and processes to solve problems like climate change, resource depletion, and pollution. For example, it could help reduce dependence on crude oil by using biomass, plastic waste, and CO2 to create alternative products.
Currently, India imports most of its crude oil, but the goal is to replace some of this with bio-based products in the next 20 years. The policy will streamline this effort.
For instance, while India is a major milk producer, the amount of milk per person is low, and increasing cattle isn’t sustainable due to environmental and resource constraints. Biomanufacturing could offer sustainable alternatives like non-dairy milk.
Additionally, Indian scientists are exploring ways to capture CO2 using algae farms integrated with steel plants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
