special report
Major achievements of CSIR during 2016
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research( CSIR) is a catalyst and driver of sustainable socio-economic change through application of science and technology
The scientific staff of CSIR though constitutes only about 3-4 % of India’ s scientific manpower but it has an overwhelming contribution amounting to 9.6 % of India’ s scientific outputs. CSIR has commercialized several technologies for the society and industry in the areas of food and agriculture, generic drugs, leather, chemicals and petrochemicals, biopharmaceuticals, and materials.
AGRICULTURE:
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Enhanced cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in the country brought about through development of new varieties and agro-technologies. The estimated area under cultivation is more than 3.3 lakh hectares with an estimated value of Rs 3568 crores and generated employment of 7.31 crore man days. India leads globally in Menthol Mint production due to CSIR efforts.
Samba Mahsuri Rice Variety – Bacterial Blight Resistant: CSIR has in collaboration with DRR( ICAR) and DBT part funding developed an improved bacterial blight resistant Samba Mahsuri variety. It is being cultivated in ~ 90,000 hectares in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Rice Cultivar( Muktashree) for Arsenic Contaminated Areas: A rice variety has been developed which restricts assimilation of Arsenic within permissible limit. The variety has been released to farmers of West Bengal.
White-fly resistant Cotton variety: Developed a transgenic cotton line which is resistant to whiteflies. It is expected to render it commercially cultivable in 10 years, after due regulatory clearances.
HEALTHCARE:
JD Vaccine for Farm Animals: Vaccine developed and commercialized for Johne’ s disease affecting Sheep, Goat, Cow and Buffalo so as to immunize them and increase
milk and meat production.
Plasma Gelsolin Diagnostic Kit for Premature Births, and Sepsis related Deaths: A new kit is being developed to diagnose pre-mature birth and sepsis.
Genomics and other omics technologies for enabling medical decision: A programme called GOMED( Genomics and other omics technologies for Enabling
Medical Decision) has been developed by the CSIR which provides a platform of disease genomics to solve clinical problems. The present portfolio includes over 80 genes and sequencing of mitochondrial loci for mitochondrial disorders. In a short span of 9 months which encompassed the proof-of-concept stage,
GOMED has catered to over 600 patients from across the country.
FOOD & NUTRITION:
Ksheer-scanner: The Ksheer Scanner, a new technological invention by CSIR-CEERI detects the level of milk adulteration and adulterants in 45 seconds at the cost of 10 paise, thereby putting adulterators in the milk trade in notice was launched on 20th February. 50 systems have been deployed at diaries across Goa, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. A hand-held device“ Ksheer Tester”, a mini version of Ksheer-scanner has also been developed.
Double-Fortified Salt: Salt fortified with iodine and iron having improved properties developed and tested for addressing anaemia in people. To be launched in the market soon.
Anti-obesity DAG Oil: Oil enriched with Diacylglycerol( DAG) instead of conventional triacylglycerol( TAG) developed. To be launched in the market soon.
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BioVoiceNews | December 2016- January 2017