National Genome Editing and Training Centre

In News: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space will be inaugurating the ‘National Genome Editing and Training Centre (NGETC)’ and ‘International Conference on Food and Nutritional Security-2023 (iFANS-2023)’ at NABI, Mohali.

NGETC:

• NGETC is a one-roof state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a national platform to cater to the regional needs to adapt different genome editing methods, including CRISPR-Cas mediated genome modification.
• In the current climatic scenario, improving crops for better nutrition and tolerance to the changing environmental condition is a significant challenge.
• Genome editing could be a promising technology that Indian research could adapt to offer the desired tailor-made traits in crops.
• NABI has shown ability and can expand the genome editing tools to vast arrays of crops, including Banana, Rice, Wheat, Tomato, Maize and Millets.

The International Conference on Food and Nutritional Security:

• iFANS-2023 will be jointly organized by the National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), Centre for Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (CIAB), National Institute of Plant Biotechnology (NIPB), and International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) at NABI, Mohali.

• The conference envisages bringing together international experts and young researchers in the areas of agriculture  , food, and nutrition biotechnology, and genome editing.
• The theme of the conference is pertinent to inspire young students and researchers considering the fact that food and nutrition security is a global demand.
• Advanced biotechnology tool such as genome editing using CRISPR-Cas9 has potential to achieve these goals in a sustainable manner.

National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI):

• Aim

• Food and nutritional security for all through agri-food biotechnology research and innovation.
• To be a centre of excellence and provide leadership in agri-food biotechnology research
• Improving nutritional quality and availability of affordable agri-food and food products through innovations.

• It is the first Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, established in India in 2010.
• The institute is part of agri-food cluster in the “Knowledge City” of Mohali (Punjab) along with its neighbouring institutes.
• Activities undertaken at NABI:

• Agricultural Biotechnology,
• Food and Nutritional Biotechnology,
• Human Resource Development,
• Meeting and Courses and
• Technology Transfer and Outreach.

Source: PIB

Previous Year Question

Q.1) Consider the following pairs: (2018)

Terms sometimes                         Context/Topic

seen in news

1. Belle II experiment       —         Artificial Intelligence
2. Blockchain technology —       Digital/Cryptocurrency
3. CRISPR – Cas9             —        Particle Physics

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3