TheIndian biotechnology industry is one of the fastest growing knowledge-basedsectors in India and is expected to play an important role in small &medium enterprises industries. Biotechnology is not just one technology, butmany. There are a wide variety of products that the biotechnology field hasproduced. Biotechnology as well all know, is the field of combination ofvarious fields such as genetics, environmental biology, biochemistry,environmental, general, agriculture, fermentation, etc.
Biotechnologyhas a long history of use in food production and processing. It has helped toincrease crop productivity by introducing such qualities as disease resistanceand increased drought tolerance to the crops. Biotechnology used in processingof wines, beers, Coffee, Tea, Cabbage and Cucumber, etc. Fermentation isbiotechnology in which desirable microorganisms are used in the production ofvalue-added products of commercial importance. The products of fermentation aremany: alcohol and carbon dioxide are obtained from yeast fermentation ofvarious sugars. Lactic acid, acetic acid and Organic acid are products ofbacteria action; citric acid, D-Gluconic acid, Coffee, Tea, Cabbage &Cucumber and Yeasts are some of the products obtained from fermentation.
Theworldwide demand for biotech products is the only indication; the speed of itsadvance is the only set to accelerate. Indian Biotechnology industry isconsidered as one of the sunrise sectors in India. The industry is divided intofive major segments: Bio-Pharma, Bio-Services, Bio-Agri, Bio-Industrial andBio-Informatics. Biotechnology industry’s growth in India is primarily drivenby vaccines and recombinant therapeutics.
Thebiotechnology sector of India is highly innovative and is on a strong growthtrajectory. The sector, with its immense growth potential, will continue toplay a significant role as an innovative manufacturing hub. The high demand fordifferent biotech products has also opened up scope for the foreign companiesto set up base in India. Today in India there are more than 350 Biotechnologycompanies in India providing employment for over 20,000 scientists.