ICAR – Reliance launch collaborative project on bioenergy

The ‘Centre of Excellence for Research on Bioenergy Grasses’ has been launched under the ICAR – Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute of Jhansi and Reliance Industries Ltd. collaborative project ‘Utilizing Perennial Grasses for Revolutionizing Sustainable Bioenergy under Challenging Environments.’

Dr ML Jat, Secretary (DARE) and Director General (ICAR) along with Dr DK Yadava, Deputy Director General (Crop Science) ICAR  inaugurated the event.

The two also laid the foundation stone of the ‘Advanced Plant Phenomics Facility’ under the project.

Dr Jat of ICAR, while interacting with the institute staff, appreciated the achievements and contribution of the institute for improving fodder security of the country and strengthening the livelihood of the farmers. Along with this, he also underlined the need for demand-driven, transdisciplinary and creative research efforts for furthering the prosperity of India and its farming community.

Dr Yadava, in his address, applauded the efforts of the institute in developing various fodder technologies which contributed immensely in the development of the country’s livestock sector.

At the outset, Dr Pankaj Kaushal, Director, ICAR-IGFRI, briefed about the institute’s activities and achievements.

The Reliance officials expressed the gratitude for joining hands with ICAR-IGFRI and informed about the significance of the collaboration by advancing forage research and utilising grasses for bioenergy purposes.

Earlier this year, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) vowed an investment of Rs 100 crore in a special project with the ICAR for developing 11 varieties of grass species to serve as feedstock for compressed biogas (CBG) production in India.

Before that, ICAR also created new organic fertilizers, such as phosphor-nitro and phosphor-sulpho compost, specifically to enrich soil and enhance agricultural productivity.