MoU to benefit of cotton farmers
The ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, Maharashtra on October 29, 2020. The collaboration aims at exchanging the expertise and facilities available from both the organizations for the ultimate benefit of cotton farmers, food processing and packaging and pharmaceutical industries. Focus will be on boosting the collaborative research in quality Improvement of Cotton Cellulosic Biopolymer by Gamma Irradiation for their use in Medical and Food Industries.
Dr P G Patil, Director, ICAR-CIRCOT, Mumbai, Maharashtra & Chairman, Coordination / Progress Review Committee, said, “The MoU would be focused on the application of Gamma radiation for improving the quality of cellulose and cotton seed protein for diversified applications, development of biodegradable packaging and functional food products from Gamma irradiated biopolymer or its nanocellulosic form.” While cellulosic biopolymer from agro-biomass has wide applications in textile, medical and food industries, the Gamma irradiation is known to improve the functionality of different polymers including cellulose and its derivatives.
