Why in the News?

India is exploring marine and space biotechnology to reduce dependence on imported bio-resources and better use extreme ecosystems. Despite having over 11,000 km of coastline and an Exclusive Economic Zone of more than 2 million sq km, domestic output remains limited, with seaweed production at around 70,000 tonnes annually. India still imports agar, carrageenan, and alginates, even though these can be produced locally. Initiatives such as the Deep Ocean Mission signal a shift from conventional coastal extraction to technology-driven biomanufacturing by linking marine biology with space research.

What is Marine Biotechnology and Why is it Strategic?

1. Definition: Studies marine microorganisms, algae, and animals to extract enzymes, bioactive compounds, biomaterials, and biostimulants.
2. Industrial relevance: Supports production of food ingredients, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, chemicals, and biofuels.
3. Adaptive advantage: Marine organisms evolve under high pressure, low light, salinity, and low oxygen, producing novel biochemical pathways.
4. Strategic gap: India imports seaweed-based inputs despite possessing rich marine biodiversity.

What is Space Biotechnology and How is it Distinct?

1. Definition: Examines biological processes under microgravity and radiation conditions.
2. Research focus: Studies microbial behaviour, plant growth, human metabolism, and cellular regeneration in space.
3. Industrial application: Enables advances in drug discovery, human health management, life-support systems, and bio-manufacturing in extreme environments.
4. Institutional role: ISRO conducts microgravity experiments on microbes, algae, and biological systems.

Why Does India Need Futuristic Marine and Space Biotechnology?

1. Resource underutilisation: Vast EEZ remains biologically rich but economically underexploited.
2. Import dependence: Relies on foreign suppliers for marine bio-compounds used in food and pharma.
3. Biomanufacturing ambition: Supports transition from raw biomass extraction to value-added bio-industries.
4. Sustainability imperative: Reduces pressure on terrestrial resources and supports circular bioeconomy.

Where Does India Stand Today?

1. Marine biomass production: Seaweed cultivation remains limited at ~70,000 tonnes annually.
2. Policy push: Deep Ocean Mission supports exploration and sustainable use of deep-sea bioresources.
3. Institutional ecosystem: ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute and state initiatives (e.g., Gujarat) promote seaweed cultivation and marine bio-products.
4. Space research: ISRO integrates biotechnology experiments into space missions.

How Does Convergence of Marine and Space Biotechnology Create Value?

1. Extreme biology: Enables understanding of life under pressure, radiation, and nutrient stress.
2. Innovation pathway: Facilitates discovery of new enzymes, stress-resistant microbes, and regenerative mechanisms.
3. Industrial scalability: Supports next-generation bioreactors, biofuels, and medical applications.
4. Strategic positioning: Aligns India with global bioeconomy and frontier science trends.

Conclusion

Futuristic marine and space biotechnology offers India a technology-led pathway to convert ecological abundance into economic and strategic advantage. By integrating deep-sea exploration with space-based biological research, India can reduce import dependence, strengthen biomanufacturing capacity, and emerge as a global hub for bio-based industries, while ensuring sustainability and scientific leadership.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2018] Why is there so much activity in the field of biotechnology in our country? How has this activity benefitted the field of biopharma?

Linkage: India is expanding biotechnology into marine and space environments to access new biological resources. This supports biopharma growth, import substitution, and high-value biomanufacturing under GS-III.

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