IMPHAL, June 20: Scientists of Institute of Bio-Resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Takyelpat, will be joining hands with their Belgium counterparts to begin a collaborative work to explore ways and means to remove silica from water sources besides studying the bio-resources of the region for a “circular economy” in the region.
IBSD, a national institute under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, located at the outskirt of Imphal will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Belgium based VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research) in this regard.
Conveying this in a hurriedly called press conference at his Takyelpat office, about 5 km west of Imphal on Monday, Director of IBSD, Prof. Dinabandhu Sahoo, opined that the idea is to share the knowledge and technological inputs on our rich bio-resources for the development of economy.
Even the public here suspected presence of silica- an agent which causes Silicosis, in the food habit of the population. Similarly no scientific study has been done in connection with high incidence of gallstone cases among the population in Manipur.
Stating that the time has come to introduce double cropping system in the region by adopting storage of water in the fields, Prof. Dinabandhu also said aromatic plants besides paddy could be cultivated round the year by using the expertise of Belgium research group and other value addition initiatives.
“We also need more exposure trip between the two parties,” he opined. “At the same time, we are also planning to take up bio-refinery process of bamboo and its product as sustainable development is high on the agenda.”
On the other hand, the “circular economy” is not new in most of the European countries as the bio-resources and its residues could be re-used and reutilised in another form or energy, according to Prof Dr Ludo Diels of the Antwerp University, Belgium.
Prof. Dr. Ludo, who is a scientist at VITO, also admitted that the use of bio-refinery process in this generation would be helpful in combating the climate change and generating circular economy as done in European countries.
Earlier in the day, Dr. Ludo also delivered a lecture on India-Belgium collaboration and role of IBSD-VITO in sustainable development at the conference hall of the institution.
