The NABI Bio-Foundry (Agri-Food Bio-Mug), under the BRIC-National Agri-Food and Bio-Manufacturing Institute (BRIC-NABI), Mohali, organised Biomanufacturing Workshop 5.0 on Thursday with the objective of bringing together researchers, technologists, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and ecosystem stakeholders to identify critical gaps and explore opportunities in India's fermentation-derived smart protein sector.
The workshop witnessed the participation of distinguished scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs working towards strengthening the country's bio-manufacturing ecosystem. The event was graced by Prof. Ashwani Pareek, Executive Director, BRIC-NABI, who delivered the inaugural address. Eminent speakers included Dr. L. S. Shashidhara, Director, National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Ms. Shivali Sugand, Co-Founder, GreenGrahi, and Mr. Siddharth Sharma, Co-Founder, GreenGrahi, who shared their expertise and experiences on advancing science-driven innovation and entrepreneurship.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Ashwani Pareek highlighted the transformative role of the Bio-Foundry in advancing sustainable bio-manufacturing technologies. He spoke about the institute's efforts in harnessing biological resources, including insect-based protein production and the conversion of agricultural and industrial waste into economically valuable products.
He noted that BRIC-NABI has already developed 13 innovative technologies in this domain, reflecting the institute's commitment to promoting circular bioeconomy solutions. He also elaborated on several national missions and advanced research facilities established at the institute, emphasising their contribution towards strengthening India's bio-manufacturing capabilities.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Dr. L. S. Shashidhara traced the remarkable journey of scientific research in India since Independence, highlighting the transition from fundamental research to real-world applications. He discussed the evolution of biological sciences—from understanding the cell as the basic unit of life to recognising the cell as life itself, from genotype to phenotype, and from Darwinian concepts to modern disease biology.
Stressing that science is universal and must be nurtured across all regions, he presented several landmark Indian success stories, including the White Revolution, the evolution of blood banking, DNA barcoding of ethnic Basmati rice, and the significant contributions of Indian scientists in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sharing her entrepreneurial journey, Ms. Shivali Sugand reflected on how witnessing the growing waste management challenges during her student years inspired her to establish GreenGrahi. She discussed the evolving waste management regulations in India and abroad, while encouraging young researchers to embrace uncertainty and learn from failures.
Emphasising that "the faster you fail, the faster you learn," she explained how scientific innovations can be translated into commercially viable solutions through a circular economy approach. She also highlighted GreenGrahi's work in converting wet organic waste into high-value proteins and elaborated on the company's validation framework for developing sustainable technologies.
Mr. Siddharth Sharma shared his entrepreneurial experience and spoke about the vision behind GreenGrahi. Established in 2021, GreenGrahi is dedicated to building a sustainable, scalable and impactful enterprise by integrating advanced technologies with life sciences to develop innovative solutions for waste valorisation and circular bioeconomy.
The workshop provided an interactive platform for scientists, researchers, start-ups and industry representatives to exchange ideas, foster collaborations and deliberate on emerging opportunities in bio-manufacturing. It concluded with insightful discussions on strengthening India's smart protein ecosystem through innovation, research partnerships and sustainable technological interventions.