THEME: Climate Change and Going Green
4.00 PM to 8.00 PM on 27th July 2024@ BioTecniKa, Bangalore.
To view the entire session, click here – https://www.youtube.com/live/tWXt3BZsiBc?si=Xrq6K1efC7dbMsjz
Registration & Networking:
The registration and Networking for the event began at 4:00 PM, and approximately 20-25 visitors from various sectors of the biotech industry, including Startups and MSMEs attended the Event.
Introduction to BioTecnika: Mr. Shekar Suman, Founder and CEO of BioTecniKa, briefly introduced BioTecnika and its progress over the years and welcomed our guests for the 43rd Monthly Meet.
Welcome & Introduction: Following a warm welcome note by Mr.Shekar Suman, Dr. Jagadish Mittur, IBioM President, introduced the guests to IBioM and its members and its progress over the years. He thanked Mr. Shekar Suman and BioTecniKa for hosting the 43rd Monthly Meet of IBioM.
Why should we worry about climate change: Dr Rajeevan Madhavan Nair, the Vice Chancellor of Atria University provided an insightful talk regarding what is climate change and its impact on the earth. Additionally, he provided comprehensive studies about the effects of climate change by discussing official reports, statements and case studies.
Dr Rajeevan Madhavan Nair was felicitated by Dr. Jagadish Mittur, IBioM President and Dr. Raja Mugasimangalam, Chairman of IBioM. Furthermore, Dr Rajeevan’s birthday coincided with the day of the Meet, which was celebrated with a joyous cake-cutting session.
Tea Break: A short tea break was held, where attendees took a few moments to relax and socialize with each other, discussing their respective businesses and ongoing projects. The details regarding the IBioM Membership were explained and the QR code was displayed for interested attendees to contribute.
Sustainable Green Energy Options for India: Following a brief introduction given by Dr Jagadish Mittur, Dr. Balakrishna Gowda, Biofuel Park, gave a detailed talk regarding the sustainable green energy options for India, where he discussed the need for renewable energy sources, factors contributing to Greenhouse effect, reasons for Biofuel Development and the advantages of utilizing natural sources of energy. Dr. Balakrishna Gowda was felicitated by Dr. Raja Mugasimangalam, Chairman of IBioM and Mr. Shekar Suman, BioTecnika Founder and IBioM Trustee.
Breeding for Climate Smart Agriculture: Dr. Prasanna Bhat from Bayer Corp Sciences gave a presentation on climate change and its relation with agriculture. He discussed some of the key areas to be focused to design climate-resilient products and how to tackle climate challenges.
Panel Discussion – Bio-Entrepreneurship Opportunities to mitigate Climate Change Moderated by Dr. Naveen Kulkarni (Quantumzyme)
Dr. Naveen Kulkarni (Quantumzyme) briefly introduced Quantumzyme and the basis of their working, following which he moderated the panel discussion on ‘Bio-Entrepreneurship Opportunities to Mitigate Climate Change’. Panellists including – Ms Sanjeevini (String Bio), Dr Suhas Nimbalkar (Eitimo Ventures LLP) and Dr Purushottam Dewang (CropG1 Agro Research & Development); discussed the opportunities available in the Biotech and Life Sciences sector concerning climate changes. They each provided insightful perspectives based on their experiences and current work.
The discussion concluded that entrepreneurs in the bio-entrepreneurship domain have the potential to drive significant progress in mitigating climate change. Developing sustainable technologies and practices can contribute to reducing carbon footprints, enhancing resource efficiency, and restoring ecological balance.
(See the last page of the report for a detailed review of the opportunities in the Climate Change Domain)
Product Demonstration – Anabio: Mr. Mithun Shah from Anabio demonstrated the working of a dissolvable sanitary pad that dissolves in a very short span of time, as opposed to the current pad available in the market.
Grants for StartUps and MSMEs: Alex D Paul (Azooka Labs) explained about the product developed by Azooka Labs and their journey. He discussed the need to incubate with the right partners and the different approaches that can be taken to obtain funding or grants for students interested in research and aspiring entrepreneurs.
- Conclusion & Vote of Thanks: Dr. Maneesh Paul, IBioM Trustee, thanked all the Participants for attending the event and Mr. Shekar Suman and BioTecniKa for hosting the 43rd Meet of IBioM. The attendees and the speakers then had delicious vegetarian dinner organized by BioTecniKa.
During Dinner, Dr Maneesh Paul was honored with a cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate his achievement as one of the inventors of ENMETAZOBACTAM; a new generation antibiotic approved for availability to circumvent the challenges of AMR.
Bio-Entrepreneurship Opportunities in Climate Change Domain
By Dr. Purushottam Dewang (CropG1 Agro Research & Development)
1. Biofuels and Renewable Energy:
– Algae Biofuels: Algae can be cultivated to produce biofuels, which offer a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Companies like Solazyme and Sapphire Energy are pioneering in this field, producing renewable energy sources that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
– Cellulosic Ethanol: Utilizing non-food plant materials to produce ethanol reduces dependency on fossil fuels and lowers carbon emissions. Companies such as POET-DSM are leading the development of this technology.
2. Agricultural Innovations:
– Precision Agriculture: Technologies that optimize resource use (water, fertilizers) through data analytics and IoT can significantly reduce environmental impact. Companies like Climate Corporation provide tools for farmers to increase yield while minimizing ecological footprints.
– Genetically Modified Crops: Developing crops that are more resistant to pests, diseases, and extreme weather conditions or semiochemical/pheromone-based solutions can enhance food security and reduce the need for chemical inputs.
3. Waste Management and Circular Economy:
– Biodegradable Plastics: Startups like Novamont and NatureWorks are creating plastics from renewable resources that decompose naturally, reducing plastic pollution and reliance on petrochemicals.
– Biogas Production: Converting organic waste into biogas provides a renewable energy source and reduces methane emissions from landfills. Companies like Bioenergy DevCo are advancing this technology.
4. Carbon Sequestration:
– Biochar: Producing biochar from agricultural waste and integrating it into soil can sequester carbon and improve soil health. Companies like Biochar Now are exploring commercial applications of this technique.
– Afforestation and Reforestation: Initiatives that plant trees and restore forests can capture significant amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. Entrepreneurs can develop projects that sell carbon credits, such as those by Forest Carbon.
5. Bioremediation:
– Microbial Solutions: Using microbes to clean up pollutants and restore ecosystems offers a natural way to mitigate environmental damage. Companies like Bioremediation, Inc. specialize in these solutions for oil spills and contaminated soils.
– Phytoremediation: Plants engineered to absorb and detoxify contaminants from soil and water can help in rehabilitating degraded environments. Research in this field is being translated into commercial ventures by companies like Edenspace Systems Corporation.