India is expected to emerge as a strong player in the consumer market of biotechnology products in the coming years. By 2005 the comparative contributions of consumers from health care products are expected to rise to aboout 40% from the present 37%, while from agricultural products the rise would be from 28% to nearly 33%.

With appropriate help from the government it should be possible to attract sizable investment in this sector in the near future to create a local industry which is globally competitive. Wisdom lies in taking proactive steps within the provisions of the WTO and other international laws, to develop a competitive local industry and take advantage of the gearing consumer demand.

Over the next five years possibilities could be created for fresh investment of Rs. 7 to 8 billion in India that hold the promise of changing the biotech production scenario considerably. Such quantum of fresh investment if materialised, would hold the potential of providing a turnover of Rs. 9 to 10 billion during the next 5-7 years. That will contribute towards import substitution, augmentation of local production and introduction of some new products in the global market.

The plant has an installed capacity to manufacture 8000 M. T. per annum of equivalent compressed yeast. The company is manufacturing fresh yeast, active dried yeast, instant dried yeast, inactive dried yeast, extracts & distillers yeast improver for food, feed, fermentation, pharmaceutical, vaccine & biotechnology industry.

KY–Yeast is productivity enhancer and probiotic feed supplement for monogastric and ruminant animals. KY Yeast is produced by fermentation of cane molasses. The yeast is dehydrated to make yeast cake. Fresh yeast cake is extruded and dried to reduce moisture employing specially designed fluid bed dryers. KY – Yeast is manufactured under hygienic, sterlised and clean environment to comply with acceptable fermentative quality and microbiological standards.

" There was a mushrooming growth in this sector between 1985-1990 and a large number of export oriented units were set up in the country. The technology was brought by the overseas consultants including the mother culture and the product was largely in the European markets. The Industry did not progress as anticipated because of stiff competition from other countries and the non-ability to meet the quality standards" she said.

Till 1997, 2.6 million plants were dispatched from the TERI facilities. The plantlets showed 90-95% survival even in the harsh conditions of the Aravali mountain ranges with out even the life saving irrigation. These demonstrated that once hardened, tissue culture produced plants, are as hardy as seedling raised plants.

Depending on the selection of clone, one can get as much as 200% increase in biomass production as demonstrated in one of the trials of Eucalyptus.

" Clearly through evaluation studies we have reached the stage where the benefits of technology and most commercial plantations will be raised clonally" said Ms. Dhawan.