IISR signs MoU with farmers’ group to promote improved spice production technologies
The MoU was signed by IISR Director R. Dinesh and Bio Mountain Farmers Producer Company chairman Sibi Palakuzhy during the 11th Research Advisory Committee (RAC) meeting of the institute here on Monday.
The Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR) in Kozhikode recently forged a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bio Mountain Farmers Producer Company Ltd. based in Kannur. The purpose of this partnership is to promote and disseminate advanced spice production technologies among local farmers. The agreement was formalized during the 11th Research Advisory Committee (RAC) meeting of the institute on August 17.
The collaboration aims to enhance connections between the institute and farmer-producer organizations, and to facilitate the transfer of pertinent technologies to the field with a focus on productivity, sustainable production practices, and improved livelihood opportunities for farmers.
At the event, IISR Director R. Dinesh and Bio Mountain Farmers Producer Company chairman Sibi Palakuzhy signed the MoU. The institute also introduced a cutting-edge AI-enabled next-generation sequencing (NGS) toolkit, created by the Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics Facility. This new platform simplifies high-throughput sequencing data analysis for researchers who may lack programming or bioinformatics expertise.
Additionally, IISR entered into a licensing agreement with Botagnix Private Ltd., a company based in Jalna, Maharashtra, for the commercial production and marketing of a granular formulation of Lecanicillium psalliotae. This fungus is designed to combat cardamom thrips.
Furthermore, IISR issued two fresh licenses for the commercial utilization of its Chandra variety, a newly developed improved black pepper cultivar. The Research Advisory Committee (RAC) meeting, chaired by B.M.C. Reddy, emphasized the importance of stronger partnerships between the institute and farmer organizations as well as industry to translate research outcomes into practical applications at the field level.
IISR Director R. Dinesh highlighted that the MoU, digital initiatives, and technology licensing programs would bolster the institute's ties with stakeholders and promote wider adoption of technologies developed by ICAR-IISR.
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