Role of public-private partnerships in biopesticides and biofertilizers research and development for sustaining agriculture production

C. L. L. Gowda, Hari kishan Sudini, Subramaniam Gopalakrishnan. (30/11/2016). Role of public-private partnerships in biopesticides and biofertilizers research and development for sustaining agriculture production, in "Recent Trends in PGPR Research for Sustainable Crop Productivity". Jodhpur, India: Scientific Publishers.

Abstract

PublicPrivatePartnerships (PPPs) are important in involving private sectors for harnessing their efficient and enhanced mass production and delivery of consumer products and services. In agriculture, the rationale for these bilateral or multilateral collaborations is to achieve sustainability in agriculture production. In agriculture research and development (R&D), these PPPs are effective in overcoming public sector institutions limited ability in taking research products and technologies effectively to farmers. This paper emphasizes the role of PPPs in biopesticides and biofertilizers research towards attaining sustainability in agricultural production. The challenges faced by the smallholder farmers in AsiaPacific region; the benefits of integrating modern and indigenous technologies and materials for increased food production arediscussed in the paper. Particularly, the role of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) in sustainable agriculture production, their mechanisms of action in controlling plant diseases and promoting crop yields were highlighted. The role of Asian PGPR Society in building fruitful collaborations among scientific institutes, private enterprises, industries and academic institutions, and thus promoting PPPs in biopesticides and biofertilizers research are discussed. Lessons learnt from PPPs such as the Hybrid Parents Research Consortia (HPRC) model established by ICRISAT; and the Bioproducts Research Consortium (BRC) partnership with ICRISAT were elaborated. The future of PGPR research and the scope of PGPR as biofertilziers and biopesticides with commercial potential in AsiaPacific region are discussed. The role of Governments in forging PPPs in R&D for biofertilizers and biopesticides as in case of is emphasized. The future role of Asian PGPR Society in accelerating and revitalizing the existing PPPs and facilitating the future partnerships in biopesticides and biofertilizer sector are discussed.