Biotechnology to steer accelerated green growth of the future, say experts

In a webinar on ‘Biotechnology Education: Skills and Opportunities for a Sustainable Future’ on Sunday (February 8, 2026), panelists explained how the discipline can drive a sustainable and technology-integrated future that aligns with societal demands, addresses current issues of healthy and safe day-to-day living.

At the webinar presented by the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Chennai, and The Hindu, the speakers underlined that biotechnology is the sunrise sector in India, set to accelerate industrial growth, and, thus emerges as an impactful career choice.

Pooja Shivanand Breh, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences Programme University of Brunei, Darussalam, pointed out that India was the fastest growing bio-economy in the world. From $10 billion in 2014 to $165 billion in 2024, it has grown 16 times, and the bio-revolution now has a target of $300 billion by 2030, she said. “Bio-pharma, agri, services, IT and industrial sectors are the major contributors to this growth; and the idea of sustainability will rest on three pillars – environmental suitability, economic viability, and social utility,” she added.

Dr K.S. Nagabhushana, Director-Research, Prayoga Institute of Education Research, Bengaluru, gave an overview of how biotechnology is facilitating green processes with zero waste management at the core of these practices. “Sustainable development should meet the needs, and not the greed, of the present,” he stressed.

Dr G. Jayaraman, Professor and Dean, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, VIT Chennai, focused on sustainability as a prospective career that biotechnology offers. “Those with skillsets in microbial culture techniques, gene manipulation, and data analysis will have no dearth of opportunities in green growth and bio-enabled economy in the future,” he said.

Dr. Jayanthi Velayudhan, Post-Doctoral Fellow, spoke of her journey as a biotech researcher at VIT.

The webinar was the second edition of the newly launched webinar series “Biotechnology: Role in Industry 5.0 – Sustainable Future Pathways”. This session can be viewed at https://newsth.live/THVITBTSY