Why biotech is hot in India

In April this year, I was fortunate to be invited to speak at the 5th Bangalore Bio 2005 meeting, in Bangalore, India. This was my first visit to India and my first introduction to the culture, bioindustry and aspirations of a very interesting and diverse nation.

India is not presumptuous about its capabilities. We all know of the success that India has experienced in the IT sector. Depending in which professional circles you mingle, it's probable that you are also aware of several large pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies scattered around the country -- companies that manufacture and export to global markets, such as Biocon, Intas, and Zydus-Cadila, to name a few. Building on these successes and with a view to capturing and contributing to the next technological advance that will fuel economic growth, India has focused on biotechnology.

There is optimism, confidence and enthusiasm for a better future behind the vision for biotechnology in India. With the timely release on March 31 of a draft 'National Biotechnology Development Strategy' that charts a 10-year road map for a nascent biotech industry, there is every reason for optimism. The vision is of socially and economically beneficial outcomes -- to "revolutionise agriculture, healthcare, industrial processing and environmental sustainability". In a sensible move, for the document speaks of transparency and social responsibility, the draft strategy was released for public perusal with an invitation for feedback. Although it has been described as "pragmatic and proactive" by industry, it drew criticism from environmental and anti-GMO groups. This is healthy -- let the dialogue continue.

A common undercurrent in conversation with local researchers was the application of biotechnology by Indians for Indians. As a predominantly agrarian society, there are high hopes for the biotech revolution to improve crop and animal productivity while reducing the need for chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers. Unlike the west, which depends on relatively few plants and animals for food, India has an impressive variety of plants and animals in agricultural production, the majority of which are not the subject of research projects in Western nations. This in itself suggests scope for rapid improvement.

Did you know that India has a buffalo genome project? Or that a large proportion of dairy products consumed throughout the nation are produced from buffalo milk? Now you do. The exhibition hall at Bangalore Bio 2005 meeting said a lot about the current status of Indian biotechnology. Rich pharmaceutical companies like Biocon had the most elaborate and expansive display booths, yet in terms of the total number of booths, companies touting 'natural' plant or animal-derived cure-alls were pervasive. It always makes me a little suspicious when a plant extract is claimed to be effective for curing everything from the common cold to tinea.

Criticisms aside, though, the Bio-beer was very tasty and it was comforting to learn that an eminent scientist created the brew using only the most pure ingredients, including extract of aloe, so that one can pursue health and intoxication in a single beverage. Tighter regulation could improve the credibility of natural remedies. It's not that I would like to see creativity stifled, but regulating 'natural' and 'traditional' remedy industries is essential to protect the health of consumers, their trust in demonstrably effective treatments, and their wallets from those out to make a quick buck from a cure-all.

Numerous informatics companies keen to provide services to local and international biotech and bio-pharma companies were also exhibiting. For instance, the TATA Group, a well-known and respected family owned company in India, has a division, TATA InfoTech, which is focusing its attention on DNA microarray technology and data analysis services.

Then there were exhibits from state governments and government research facilities. A display for "Rajasthan -- the biotech revolution" is worth a mention. Rajasthan has more than 50 important medicinal plants and is home to 77 per cent of India's camels. Camels are not only good at spitting and for trekking through the desert -- camel products include milk, meat, wool, leather, bones and dung. According to the Rajasthan brochure, some interesting properties of camel milk are that it has low cholesterol, low sugar, high mineral content, high vitamin C, low protein (?), and high concentrations of insulin. Apparently the milk has a hypoglycaemic activity and contains no allergens. Perhaps Australia should look more closely at the economic importance of our camel population.

It's prudent to focus on local issues if you want continued support from the local community, but let's now reflect on some numbers and policies that reveal larger ambitions. In 2003-2004 the Indian biotechnology industry grew 39 per cent, turning over US$705 million of which 56 per cent was from exports and accounted for 1.5 per cent of the global biotechnology sector which is worth approximately US$46 billion.

In the past, India has been perceived as recalcitrant towards intellectual property protection. Recent changes to patent laws will change that and are expected to facilitate investment in discovery-based research. The India Biotechnology Handbook, published by BioSpectrum (CyberMedia), projects that by 2010, India's up-and-coming biotech industry will be generating US$9 billion in revenue, 44 per cent of which will be exports. Foreign investment is not only invited, the rules are being changed to make it appealing.

India, a land of almost 1.1 billion people, has chosen to focus on biotechnology. Never in my life have I experienced such a thirst for knowledge as at Bio 2005 in Bangalore, as our booth was swarmed by students for information about our instruments and solutions. As long as we kept speaking, they kept listening, and if we stopped, they would ask more questions. Of course this is where the future lies for India's biotechnology drive, with these young, passionate and well-educated people.

Dr Russell L McInnes is an applications scientist at Agilent Technologies, which he joined in December 2002 to support and train customers and staff involved with DNA microarray, microfluidics and associated software tools. Previously, he completed a PhD in the field of plant molecular biology, supported by the CRC for Molecular Plant Breeding, and was a postdoc at the Plant Biotechnology Centre in Victoria.