Welcome to Envis Node on Environmental Biotechnology :: Kalyani University >> Envis Nodes

Sustainable development can be defined as the development which meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable development is a pattern of social and structured economic transformations (i.e. development) which optimizes the economic and societal benefits available in the present, without jeopardizing the likely potential for similar benefits in the future. A primary goal of sustainable development is to achieve a reasonable and equitably distributed level of economic well-being that can be perpetuated continually for many human generations.

The continued deterioration of environment and lack of adequate development in the developed countries. This global environmental deterioration has been a result of unsustainable patterns of certain kinds of consumption and production processes found especially in the industrialized countries, which are responsible for the largest proportion of the world’s current emission of pollutants, including toxic and hazardous wastes. These developed countries bear the capacity, and the main responsibility, to combat the global impacts of this pollution.

Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has identified our ENVIS Centre on Environmental Biotechnology as one of the 20 selected ENVIS Centers (out of 78 Centers) in India, to work as partners under Sustainable Development Network Programme (SDNP) in collaboration with Indo- Canadian Environment Fund (ICEF). Our ENVIS Centre has been assigned an additional responsibility to work on the thematic area ‘Environmental Biotechnology to strengthen the ENVIS network for Sustainable Development.

SDNP-ENVIS programme aims to facilitate the process of sustainable development, promote good practices and strengthen the democratic processes through a mechanism of information exchange between the government and research organizations, NGOs, business establishments and the civil society through electronic and other media.

The objectives of the project are to develop a SDNP website, which can support the sustainable development of the resources by integrating the resources available in the existing ENVIS centers network. About 16 thematic areas and the involving centers are identified as SDNP Partners.

With all these issues, this page provides links to a range of sites with more general information on Environmental Biotechnology for the sustainable development of the natural resources and to improve the effect of environmental treatment, reduce pollution inputs and achieve an acceptable level of economic and environmental sustainability.

The field of biotechnology has moved with spectacular speed towards developing a better understanding and insight into life process and sustainable development of mankind. Its impact in the agriculture, industrial sector, health and environment has given a new dimension to our developmental process. India is likely to require high quality of human resources in the biotechnology sector, as public and industry sector driven R & D expands to propel the country into a global power in this sector (Table-1). The creation of infrastructural facilities, promotion of biotech parks and incubators are some of the programmes taken up during the year, which have contributed significantly to the speedy progress.

1.	Agricultural Biotechnology Crop developments; (including transgenic plants) Biofertilizer *Biopesticides & other biocontrol practices
2.	Plant biotechnology Medicinal and aromatic plant improvement Micropropagation
3.	Animal biotechnology Livestock improvement Seri-biotechnology
4.	Aquaculture and marine biotechnology
5.	Medical biotechnology
6.	Environmental biotechnology
7.	Human Genetics & Genomics
8.	Food biotechnology
9.	Bioinformatics

Indian nanobiotechnology efforts cover a wide spectrum of areas, including microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), nanostructure synthesis and characterization, DNA chips, quantum computing electronics, carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles, nanocomposites, and biomedical applications of nanotechnology. The Indian government catalyzed, through the Department of Science and Technology, the national Nanotechnology Program, which is funded with $10 million over 3 years. India has also created a Nanomaterials Science and Technology Initiative and a National Program on Smart Materials; the latter will receive $15 million over 5 years. This program, which is focused on materials that respond quickly to environmental stimuli, is jointly sponsored by five government agencies and involves 10 research centers. The Ministry of Defence is developing projects on nanostructures magnetic materials, thin films, magnetic sensors, nanomaterials, and semiconductor materials. India has also formed a joint nanotechnology initiative with the European Union (EU). Several academic institutions are pursuing nanotechnology R&D, among them the Institute of Smart Materials Structures and Systems of the Indian Institute of Science; the Indian Institute of Technology; the Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology, and Research Academy; the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics; and the University of Delhi, Pune, and Hyderabad. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, India’s premier R&D body, holds numerous nanotechnology related patents, including novel drug delivery systems, production of nanosized chemicals and high-temperature synthesis of nanosized titanium carbide. In the industrial sector, Nano Biotech Ltd. is doing research in nonotechnology for multiple diagnostic and therapeutic uses. Dabur Research Foundation is involved in developing nanoparticle delivery systems for nticancer drugts. Similarly, Panacea Biotec has made advances in novel controlled-release systems, including nanoparticle drug delivery for eye diseases, mucoadhesive nanoparticles, and transdermal drug delivery systems. Cranes Sci MEMS Lab, a privately funded research laboratory located at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the Indian Institute of Science, is the first privately funded MEMS institution of India; it carries out product-driven research and creates intellectual property rights in MEMS and related fields with an emphasis on social obligations and education.

1. A number of transgenic bio-fertilizers producing organisms viz. Cyanobacteria, Rhizobium, Azotobacter and Phosphate Solubilizing bacteria were developed over the years for field commercial trials.

2. A few microbial pesticides were also developed through R&D, whose trials already made in the field.

3. A few plant pesticides also screened from Neem, Bel, Karanj etc. whose efficacy were also examined against pathogenic fungi or pests.

4. There has been significant emphasis on application of biotechnological tools for biodiversity conservation and characterization, restoration of degraded ecosystems, wastelands and mine spoil dumps.

5. The use of biotechnological R&D activities in industrial effluent treatment viz. dye industry, pulp and paper mills, distillery chemical process industry etc. or treatment of industrial emission containing SOx, NOx & Pyridine etc. were praiseworthy.

6. Biosensor bases environmental quality monitoring techniques were also developed slowly

7. Biotechnology helps substantially in ex-situ conservation practices of rare and endangered species.

8. It has also immense role in R&D of Biofuel and Bioenergy research. Bioethanol, Biodiesel, Biohydrogen production technology developed over the year’s research.

Govt. of India has laid great emphasis on the application of biotechnology for societal development. Special programmes are being supported for socially disadvantaged sections of the population, women and rural peoples. Biotechnology based programmes for SC/ST populations have benefited around 50,000 people through implementation of various projects.

The programmes include cultivations of aromatic and medicinal plants, mushroom, spirulina, seaweeds, biological control of plant pests and diseases, vermiculture and vermicomposting, biofertilizers, aquaculture, floriculture, poultry farming as well as human health care interventions etc.

India was the first country in the world to establish in 1987 a distributed biotechnology information system (BTIS) networks. In this network, there are 10 distributed information centers (DICs) and 50 distributed information subcentre, (DISCs).

The modern technological advancement had given rise to new breed of products and new pollutant. Detecting, detoxifying the pollutant and minimization of waste are the major target of environmental biotechnology. Environmental nanobiotechnology products (E nano product) are used to remediate both organic and inorganic pollutant effectively. E nano products like nanostructures magnetic materials, thin films, magnetic sensors, nanomaterials, and semiconductor materials can be used in specific field of environment.

1.	Pollutant remediation	a) Nano size zeolite can able to remove hydrocarbon like toluene to benzaldehyde b) Cell mineral interface is made up by nanoparticle of carbon which can be used as biofilm for bacterial remediation of oil and heavy metals. c) Nanoparticles of protein can able to transform Cr⁶⁺ to Cr³⁺	More than 87% efficient compare to conventional bioremediation techniques
2.	Pollutant generation minimization	The conventional cathode ray tube can be replaced by nontoxic carbon nanotubes	a) Mainly reduces the e waste generation b) Reduces the heavy metals contamination
3.	Pollutant detection	Nano protein based semiconductors can detect the pollutant at ppb level	Use to detect PAHs, heavy metals
4.	Water Purification	Nanostructure like dendritic polymers remove Cu²⁺,Pb²⁺ and Nanoscale magnetite (Fe₃O₄) remove carbon tetrachloride	Can be used in ultra filtration unit of water purifier