Bhubaneswar: Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University and Insectika Biotech Private Ltd (IBPL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for undertaking collaborative research and development of improved industrial methods for insect-based industrial products.
IBPL is a company which harnesses power of insects to fight global warming and improve food security by reducing food waste, unsustainable fishing and deforestation by recycling organic waste into protein for animal feed.
It uses innovative technology and industrial scale insect farming to transform waste into sustainable solutions and, at the same time, protecting the environment.
IBPL has been working on development of Black Soldier Fly (BSF)-based insect protein and insect oil from various waste and raw material. The company works on exclusive breeding and rearing of BSF, which includes propriety Internet of Things-managed bioreactors.
IBPL also holds the formula for poultry and various aquatic farming feed based on BSF, in association with Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology and ICAR-Central Institute of Brackish Water Aquaculture, Chennai.
As per the MoU, signed on Saturday between SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda and IBPL Director Arun Kumar Das, SOA and IBPL will collaborate in research and development of improved industrial methods for insect protein and oil extraction and purification to meet industry standards.
The agreement also includes collaboration with international universities and Indian research institutes to conduct research and secure grants for developing insect-based industrial products.
Others present during the signing event were Prof. (Dr) Neeta Mohanty, SOA Pro-Vice-Chancellor; Prof. HN Thatoi, Director of SOA’s Centre for Industrial Biotechnology Research (CIBR); Pramod Kumar Panda, SOA Chief Administrative Officer; Prof. Sasmita Mohanty of Institute of Business and Computer Studies (IBCS); Dr Amrita Banerjee, Assistant Professor (Research), CIBR; Dr Sourav Chattoraj, Assistant Professor (Research), CIBR; Dr Kamalesh Mishra, Director, IBPL; Dr Chinmayee Acharya, Research Head, IBPL; and Santosh Biswal, HR and Administration, IBPL.
