Cabinet Approves Scheme to Boost Biotech Manufacturing

August 27, 2024

General Studies Paper-3

Context: The Union Cabinet approved the BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) to drive a biotech manufacturing revolution, akin to the IT sector’s transformation in the 1990s.

Aim:

The BioE3 Policy aims to revolutionize biotechnology in India by boosting sustainable bio-manufacturing across sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and environmental conservation. It fosters innovation, supports national priorities, and enhances employment through advanced biotechnological processes.
Features of the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) Policy:
It focuses on promoting biotechnology-based manufacturing in India, aiming to catalyze a technological revolution. Here are the important features:

High-Performance Biomanufacturing: Focuses on manufacturing products through advanced biotechnological processes, including medicines, materials, and bio-based products for agriculture and industry.
Strategic Thematic Sectors: The policy covers six thematic areas:
Bio-based chemicals, biopolymers, and enzymes.
Smart proteins and functional foods.
Precision biotherapeutics.
Climate-resilient agriculture.
Carbon capture and utilization.
Marine and space research.
Fostering Innovation: Encourages the development of bio-based products that can address environmental, agricultural, and industrial challenges.
Capacity Building: Supports the creation of internships for students in grades 11th and 12th, as well as fellowships for graduate and post-graduate research.
Focus on National Priorities: Addresses critical areas such as sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation, and biotechnology innovation to meet national needs.
Government Backing: Merged various schemes into a single initiative called “Vigyan Dhara,” which allocates significant resources for science, technology, research, and innovation.

What is Biotechnology?

It is a technology that utilizes biological systems, living organisms or parts of this to develop or create different products. Genomic technologies are defined as technologies used to manipulate and analyze genomic information.

Examples of Biotechnology

Medical Biotechnology
Genetic engineering
Industrial Biotechnology
Environmental Biotechnology

Potential of Biotechnology in Healthcare and Agriculture:

Potential of Biotechnology	Details
Gene Therapy	Replaces/modifies defective genes with healthy ones. Cures diseases like Parkinson’s, cystic fibrosis, haemophilia, muscular dystrophy, sickle cell anaemia.
Pharmacogenomics	Studies genetic response to drugs, optimizing therapy with fewer adverse effects. Helps develop better vaccines, powerful medicines.
Stem Cell Therapy	Uses stem cells to repair diseased or injured tissues. Treats cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s).
Molecular Diagnostics	Techniques like Recombinant DNA, PCR, and ELISA enable early diagnosis for better treatment.
Edible Vaccines	Uses transgenic plants to produce vaccines. Treats diseases like cholera, hepatitis B, and foot and mouth disease.
GM Crops	Enhances pest resistance, tolerance to abiotic stresses (cold, drought), and nutritional value (golden rice). Increases photosynthesis efficiency.
Increase in Crop Production	Improves crop yield through better disease control and stress tolerance. Reduces losses for farmers.
Biofortification	Enhances micronutrient content in crops through genetic modification or enriched fertilizers.
Tissue Culture	Regenerates disease-free plants in labs, providing high-quality planting materials.
Fresher Produce/Increased Shelf-Life	Extends the shelf life of food, reducing waste and ensuring access to fresher produce.
Aesthetic Flowers	Improves flowers’ smell, size, and ornamental qualities of shrubs and trees.
Breeding of Animals	Uses artificial insemination for enhanced breeding in livestock like sheep and cattle.
Other Applications	Hybrid seeds, biofertilizers, biopesticides, stress-resistant crops, and improved animal production through better growth, nutrition, and health.

Few challenges associated with Biotechnology

Biotechnology can threaten the survival of certain species by interfering with natural ways of breeding
As biotechnology allows crops to intake more nutrients from the soil, this will result in loss of soil fertility
Biotechnology can lead to biological weapons that terrorists could use for destruction (Bio wars)
Altering DNA in humans can result in the commercialization of these techniques thus it can turn human life into a commodity.
Protecting patient privacy is becoming an increasing concern due to the latest advances in technology that are making it possible to decipher the human genome.
The development in genomics and techniques for creating artificial genes present serious threats to humans and the environment in general
Lack of public awareness of the modern tools of biotechnology

Conclusion

Biotechnology has numerous advantages but it also has some disadvantages. Biotechnology could be utilised in solving future problems like food and water insecurity, hereditary diseases, etc but its ethical, and social issues need to be taken into account while its usage