SOA To Host National Seminar On Industrial & Marine Biotechnology In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: The Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA) in Bhubaneswar will host a two-day national seminar on “Research and Innovations in Industrial and Marine Biotechnology: A Circular Economy” on November 4 and 5.

Sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology’s Science and Engineering Research Board (DST-SERB), it will be organised by SOA’s Centre for Industrial Biotechnology Research (CIBR) in collaboration with National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) and Biotechnology Research Society of India (BRSI), Thiruvananthapuram.

The seminar, to be attended by researchers, industry experts and policy-makers, will discuss innovative biotechnological solutions which align with circular economy principles, said Prof Hrudayanath Thatoi, Director of CIBR and Convenor of the seminar.

“The subject of the seminar is very important in the present scenario as industrial and marine biotechnology are poised to play critical roles in addressing contemporary global challenges such as resource scarcity, environmental degradation and climate change,” he said.

Prof Thatoi further said by leveraging biological processes for industrial applications these fields offered sustainable alternatives to traditional methods enhancing efficiency and reducing waste. Marine biotechnology, in particular, unlocks the vast potential of marine resources contributing to food security, pharmaceuticals, and biofuels while promoting the conservation of marine ecosystems, he added.

“The concept of a circular economy further amplifies these benefits by emphasising the importance of reusing and recycling materials, thereby minimising waste and promoting sustainability as against the traditional linear economy,” he said adding that the upcoming seminar would serve as a pivotal platform to explore these interconnections.

Prof Thatoi said the CIBR was established in SOA in 2023 with the objective of carrying out advance research in the fields of marine, agriculture, environment, pharmaceutics and medical biotechnology focusing on industrial applications in a drive for sustainable bioeconomy.

“In today’s world, where sustainability and environmental concerns are at the forefront, a ground-breaking field known as white biotechnology or industrial biotechnology has emerged,” he said.

White Biotechnology harnesses the power of living organisms, particularly microbes, to produce sustainable and ecological solutions for a wide range of industries, Prof Thatoi said adding CIBR was at the forefront of this evolution.