Fri Feb 21 18:12:32 UTC 2025: **Indian Scientists Transfer Bio-Pesticide Technologies to Industry, Promising Boost to Sustainable Agriculture**
NEW DELHI – The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) announced the successful transfer of two novel, bio-based pest control solutions, AphidControl and XanthoControl, to PI Industries Ltd. This transfer, celebrated at an event attended by top government officials and industry leaders, marks a significant milestone in translating Indian scientific research into commercially viable products for sustainable agriculture.
AphidControl, a botanical insecticide derived from plant extracts, targets aphids, a major agricultural pest. XanthoControl, a biocontrol agent from microbial metabolites, combats Xanthomonas, a bacterial pathogen affecting over 40 crops. Both offer environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic pesticides, addressing the significant crop losses (estimated at 10-35% annually) caused by pests and diseases in India.
The technology transfer is part of C-CAMP’s Discovery to Innovation Accelerator (DIA) program, supported by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India and the Pratiksha Trust. The program aims to bridge the gap between research and industry, fostering innovation in key sectors.
Prof. A.K. Sood, PSA to the Government of India, praised the initiative, highlighting its potential to reshape India’s agricultural landscape. Other officials emphasized the importance of translating scientific discoveries into real-world solutions and the role of collaboration between academia and industry in achieving this goal. PI Industries will now undertake large-scale validation and commercialization of AphidControl and XanthoControl. The collaboration involved multiple research institutions, including CSIR-IHBT, CSIR-CIMAP, IBSD, and DBT, demonstrating a significant national effort to advance sustainable agricultural practices.
First Piper 