Nobel laureate Dr R K Pachauri-led The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has identified biotechnology as the prime mover for creating eco-friendly and sustainable technologies in the areas including new drugs to treat diseases.

TERI has initiated a number of significant researches in the field of biotechnology over the years as a solution to various environment, energy and agricultural problems and recently it got Biocon chairperson Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw to stir up its moves in this direction. Delivering the 7th Darbari Seth memorial lecture, Dr Shaw emphasized leveraging biotechnology to earn eco-credit points. She focused on the importance of biotechnology for the conservation of environment and energy for a clean and green living. She emphasised that innovative use of biotechnology hold the key to solving the nation's problems in dealing with carbon emissions and spiralling energy costs. In particular, she added, algae held great promise. "Algae can be the cheapest source of biofuel that is easily produced, which can help in reducing pollution in various industries like chemical, textile, detergents etc."

She proposed a five-point plan for India to break free of dependence on fossil fuels, reduce carbon emissions and achieve a clean environment. Make the energy mix more balanced so that by 2050, the country uses equal amounts of fossil fuel, hydel sources, biofuels, nuclear energy and solar and wind power instead of the current 65 per cent dependency on fossil fuels, she said. Create centres of excellence in research in seven critical areas ranging from bio-fuels to energy creation from solid urban waste and using enzymes by investing Rs 1,000 crore over the next five years, she added.