BT22703

Bioentrepreneurship and Bioethics

Unit 3: Introduction to Bioindustries

Dr. S. Pandi Prabha

Professor and Assistant Head
Department of Biotechnology
Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering
Sriperumbudur
 Introduction to Bioindustries
• Bioindustries = industries that use biological resources, processes, or
organisms to produce goods and services.

• They connect science → technology → market.

• Major domains:
• Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
• Agricultural Biotechnology
• Industrial (White) Biotechnology
• Bioindustries leverage biological organisms and processes to create
products across diverse sectors, including

• Biopharmaceuticals, which develop drugs and vaccines;

• Biotechnology in agriculture, focusing on genetically modified crops,
biofertilizers, and biopesticides; and
• Industrial biotechnology, using biological tools for producing chemicals,
materials, and fuels sustainably.

• This field encompasses research, development, and manufacturing, driving

economic growth and addressing societal challenges in health, food
security, and environmental sustainability.
 Pharmaceutical Sector
Focus:
• Developing and manufacturing medical products from biological
sources.
Key areas:
• Vaccines, biopharmaceuticals (like antibodies and nucleic acid
products), and biosimilars.
Impact:
• Essential for public health, providing affordable medicines and
vaccines globally.
Biopharmaceuticals
Recombinant proteins (insulin, growth hormones, erythropoietin).
Monoclonal antibodies (for cancer, autoimmune diseases).
Gene & Cell Therapy
CRISPR-based therapeutics.
CAR-T cell therapy in oncology.
Vaccine Development
Recombinant and mRNA vaccines (e.g., COVID-19 mRNA vaccines).
Diagnostics
PCR, ELISA, biosensors.
Examples
Insulin (Genentech) – First recombinant therapeutic protein.
Covaxin (India) – Indigenous COVID-19 vaccine using inactivated
 Agricultural Sector
Focus:
• Enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability through
biological solutions.
Key areas:
• Genetically modified crops for better yields and disease resistance,
biopesticides to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, and
biofertilizers for soil health.
Impact:
• Contributes to food security and sustainable farming practices.
Key Areas
Genetically Modified (GM) Crops
Bt Cotton (insect-resistant).
Golden Rice (biofortified with Vitamin A).
Biofertilizers : Rhizobium, Azospirillum, Cyanobacteria → nitrogen fixation.
Biopesticides : Bacillus thuringiensis, Trichoderma.
Marker-Assisted Breeding
Faster development of stress-resistant varieties.
Examples
• Bt Cotton in India – Increased productivity, reduced pesticide use.
• Golden Rice – Addressing Vitamin A deficiency.
Market Importance
• India: 60–70% population depends on agriculture.
• Agri-biotech addresses food security, climate resilience, and sustainability.
Industrial Sector
Focus:
• Utilizing biological processes for manufacturing chemicals, materials,
energy, and more.
Key areas:
• Producing bio-based chemicals, enzymes, biofuels, and sustainable
materials.
Impact:
• Promotes sustainable manufacturing, reduces waste, and develops
novel biological solutions for various industrial applications.
Key Areas
Biofuels
Bioethanol from sugarcane, biodiesel from algae.
Bioplastics & Biopolymers : PLA (polylactic acid) as a biodegradable alternative to plastic.
Enzyme Technology : Detergent enzymes, textile enzymes, food processing enzymes.
Waste Management & Bioremediation : Oil spill cleanup, heavy metal detoxification.
Examples
• Second-generation bioethanol plants in India (from crop residues).
• Novozymes (Denmark) – Global leader in industrial enzymes.
Market Importance
• Industrial biotech contributes to green economy & sustainability.
• Reduces fossil fuel dependency and carbon emissions.
 Comparative Table

Feature Pharma Biotech Agri Biotech Industrial Biotech

Main Focus Health & Medicine Food & Agriculture Energy & Materials
GM crops,
Drugs, vaccines, Biofuels, enzymes,
Products biofertilizers,
diagnostics bioplastics
biopesticides
Food security, Eco-friendly
Better healthcare,
Benefits reduced pesticide products, waste
precision therapy
use reduction
Sustainability,
Aging population, Growing population,
Market Drivers renewable energy
chronic diseases climate change
demand
Future Prospects
• Pharma Biotech → Personalized medicine, AI in drug
discovery.
• Agri Biotech → CRISPR-edited crops, microbiome
engineering.
• Industrial Biotech → Circular bioeconomy, large-scale
biorefineries.
Conclusion
• Bioindustries are transforming healthcare,
agriculture, and industry.
• They contribute to sustainability, food security,
healthcare, and green economy.
• Future entrepreneurs can explore biosimilars,
biofertilizers, biofuels, bioplastics, and CRISPR-
based innovations.
 Overarching Concepts
Bio-engineering:
• A related field focused on high-level systems approaches for utilizing
biological systems, often without directly altering biological materials.
Bioinformatics:
• The application of computational tools and bioinformatics for
exploring and exploiting biological data to develop new products.
Government Initiatives:
• Strategic support from governments, such as India's National
Biotechnology Development Strategy, fosters research, investment,
and innovation within the sector.
 Novelty Ideas in Agricultural Biotechnology
1.CRISPR-Edited Microbiome Engineering
1. Instead of editing crops directly, gene-edit soil microbes to improve nitrogen fixation,
drought tolerance, or pest resistance in plants.
2. Advantage: No GMO labeling for crops (microbes remain in soil, not the plant
genome).
2.RNA Interference (RNAi)-Based Pest Control
1. Spray biodegradable RNA molecules that silence essential pest genes.
2. Target-specific → no harm to beneficial insects like bees.
3.Bioelectronic Roots
1. Embedding nanosensors in plant roots to monitor nutrient uptake, stress signals, and
soil health in real time.
2. Data sent via IoT to farmers’ mobile apps.
 Novelty Ideas in Agricultural Biotechnology
Synthetic Symbiotic Crops
1. Develop non-legume crops (like wheat or maize) that can host nitrogen-fixing
bacteria internally.
2. Could cut synthetic nitrogen fertilizer use by >70%.
Circular Agriculture Biofactories
1. Convert agricultural waste (rice husks, sugarcane bagasse) into biofertilizers,
bioplastics, or microbial growth substrates—closing the nutrient loop.
Climate-Resilient Algal Fertilizers
1. Use engineered microalgae as drought- and salinity-tolerant soil conditioners
that also capture CO₂.
Self-Healing Seeds
1. Seeds coated with probiotics + protective biofilms that repair minor DNA
damage from environmental stress before germination.
 Pioneers in Agricultural Biotechnology
Pioneer Contribution Notable Work
High-yield, disease-resistant
Norman Borlaug Father of the Green Revolution
wheat varieties
Discovered Agrobacterium
Marc Van Montagu & Jeff
Plant genetic engineering tumefaciens as a tool for gene
Schell transfer
Developed first genetically Led biotech crop
Mary-Dell Chilton engineered plants commercialization at Syngenta
Genetic improvement for Submergence-tolerant rice (Sub1
Pamela Ronald flood/disease tolerance gene)
Jennifer Doudna & Opened path for precise plant
CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing
Emmanuelle Charpentier gene edits
Shinya Yamanaka & Plant Inspired plant regeneration from
Plant pluripotency research
Cell Reprogramming teams single cells
RNA interference (RNAi) Foundation for RNA-based pest
Gary Ruvkun & Craig Mello mechanisms control
 Agricultural Biotechnology
Introduction

•Agricultural biotechnology uses biological techniques to improve

crop yield, pest resistance, and sustainability.

•Biofertilizers and biopesticides are eco-friendly alternatives to

chemical inputs.

•Rising demand for organic farming fuels growth in this sector.

Market Opportunity

•Global biofertilizer market: $3.5B, CAGR ~12%.

•Global biopesticide market: $6B, CAGR ~14%.
•India’s biofertilizer market projected at ₹7,500+ crore by 2030.
•Government subsidies & organic movement accelerating adoption.
Business Idea

Title: EcoFusion BioTech – Sustainable Biofertilizer & Biopesticide

Solutions

•Custom multi-strain biofertilizers for region-specific crops.

•Target-specific biopesticides with minimal environmental impact.
•Encapsulation technology for longer shelf life & resilience.
•AI-based soil microbiome analysis for product recommendation.
 Competitive Gap Analysis – Biofertilizer Sector
Company Strengths Limitations
Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Government-backed, large-scale Mostly generic strains, limited
(GSFC) production, wide distribution customization
Government-supported, nationwide Less innovation in formulations,
National Fertilizers Ltd (NFL)
reach, low prices focus on volume
Long experience in microbial Conventional formulations, limited
T. Stanes & Co. Ltd
consortia, strong brand tech integration
High-tech seed inoculants, strong Focus mainly on seed inoculants, not
Rizobacter
R&D in microbial science full crop cycle
Global leader in enzyme/microbial Primarily large-scale B2B, less direct
Novozymes
biotech, strong patents farmer engagement
Specialized in mycorrhiza & Focused product range, not multi-
Symborg (Corteva Agriscience)
biostimulants, global markets strain blends
Focus on biocontrol agents for niche
Mapleton Agri Biotech Small scale, limited product diversity
crops
Custom AI-based blends,
New entrant — requires brand
EcoFusion BioTech (Proposed) encapsulation tech, climate-resilient
building and farmer trust
strains, subscription model
Product Portfolio

Biofertilizers:
•Nitrogen fixers (Azotobacter, Azospirillum, Rhizobium)
•Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (Bacillus, Pseudomonas)
•Potassium mobilizers, mycorrhiza fungi

Biopesticides:
•Bacterial: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)
•Fungal: Trichoderma, Beauveria
•Viral: NPV, GV
•Plant-based: Neem extracts
Target Market

•Primary: Small and medium farmers.

•Secondary: Organic farming groups, agri-cooperatives, agro-dealers.
•Export potential: African & Southeast Asian markets.
Business Model

•Direct sales to farmers via rural distributors.

•B2B supply to agri-input companies.
•Subscription packages: soil testing + monthly supply.
•Franchise Rural BioCenters for sales, training & service.
Revenue Streams

•Product sales (biofertilizers, biopesticides).

•Consultancy & training services.
•Soil testing & analysis packages.
•Export sales.
Operations Plan

Phase 1 – Pilot (Year 1):

•Small-scale fermentation unit, partnerships with agri
universities.
•Field trials in 3–4 regions.

Phase 2 – Scaling (Years 2–3):

•Commercial plant setup, organic certification, distributor
expansion.

Phase 3 – Diversification (Years 4–5):

•Advanced biotech strains, international market entry.
Competitive Advantage

•Scientific validation of microbial strains.

•Customized crop-region solutions.

•Encapsulation for shelf-life extension.

•Digital platform for precision recommendations.

 Financial Projection

Year Revenue Net Profit Farmers Served

1 ₹20 lakh ₹4 lakh 500+
3 ₹1.2 cr ₹30 lakh 5,000+
5 ₹4 cr ₹1 cr 20,000+
Funding Requirements

•Total required: ₹50 lakh seed funding

Use of Funds:

•45%: Fermentation & lab equipment

•25%: Facility setup & certifications
•15%: R&D & product development
•15%: Marketing & distribution
Impact & Sustainability

•Reduction in chemical residue in crops.

•Improvement in soil health & biodiversity.

•Rural job creation through decentralized production.

•Support for climate-resilient agriculture.

Conclusion

Agricultural biotechnology in biofertilizers & biopesticides offers a

high-growth, eco-friendly business opportunity.

EcoFusion BioTech combines innovation, sustainability, and farmer-

centric solutions.

Join us in growing a greener future.