| 1. The State of Maharashtra has always played
a leadership role in the national economic and social
renaissance. It has looked at advances in science and technology
as great opportunities for bringing
about economic transformation and social change. One great opportunity
in this new century, rightly
termed as the 'Century of Knowledge', is the emergence of knowledge-based
industries. Information
Technology (IT) was just a forerunner among these industries and
Maharashtra responded rapidly
and became a leading State in IT. Another emerging opportunity on
the horizon is Biotechnology.
2. Biotechnology deals with living systems, including plants, animals
and microbes. Biotechnology
derives its strength by harnessing biological processes that sustain
life. It incorporates any technique,
which uses living organisms, parts of organisms and enzymes, proteins,
etc., which are either
naturally occurring or are derived from such living systems. Such
techniques can be used to make or
modify the products, improve plant or animal productivity or develop
microorganisms for special use.
Emerging Biotechnology uses recombinant DNA, cell fusion, embryo
manipulation, etc.
3. Biotechnology has the potential to transform the lives of the
people in the State by impacting hugely
on agriculture, animal husbandry, health, environmental protection,
material transformation, etc.
Further, Maharashtra has the potential to become a leader in Biotechnology,
not only in the country
but also in the entire world. It is to realize this potential that
the State is announcing this
Biotechnology Policy 2001.
Download
entire Biotech Policy Document |
