BioFoundry Centre in Mohali to scale agri-food biomanufacturing, says Jitendra Singh

Union Minister Jitendra Singh laid the foundation stone for a BioFoundry Centre in Mohali. The Department of Biotechnology planned the facility with an outlay of about Rs 42 crore. Officials said the centre will act as a national platform. It will help develop and expand advanced biomanufacturing processes for agri-food biotechnology.

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The facility is being set up at the National Agri-Food and Biomanufacturing Institute, or NABI, in Mohali. It is expected to link laboratory research with industrial use. The centre will focus on areas such as smart proteins, bio-inputs, and other bio-based products. The ministry said this work will support India’s bioeconomy.

BioFoundry Centre infrastructure at NABI Mohali

The BioFoundry Centre will include large-scale fermenters and other specialised systems. Plans also include upstream and downstream processing equipment for biomanufacturing work. The site will host high-throughput experimental platforms for faster testing. These features are meant to support scale-up from small trials to larger production stages.

The centre will also support startups and industry partners during scale-up and pre-commercialisation. It is expected to assist with technology transfer for new processes and products. The facility is also planned as a skill development hub. Young professionals in biotechnology are expected to train using the centre’s infrastructure.

BioFoundry Centre role in India’s innovation ecosystem

Jitendra Singh said NABI has become an important part of India’s biotechnology ecosystem. The minister highlighted NABI’s focus on turning research into solutions. This work is linked to agriculture, food, and nutrition. The minister said such translation helps connect scientific findings with practical needs.

The minister noted NABI’s work spans genomics, microbial biotechnology, food science, and bioinformatics. The minister said these areas contribute to nutritional security and sustainable agriculture. The work also supports value addition in agri-food systems. The ministry linked these outcomes to wider efforts in building stronger biotechnology capacity.

Jitendra Singh said institutions like NABI, backed by infrastructure such as the BioFoundry, are supporting a stronger innovation ecosystem. The ministry expects the new facility to improve the path from research to industrial application. Officials also said the centre will support new products in agri-food biotechnology. The project is being positioned as part of broader bioeconomy goals.

With inputs from PTI