MYSORE: National Institute of Engineering (NIE), Mysore, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Labland Biotechs, a plant biotechnology company, to carry out research and development activities on jatropha-based bio-diesel.

As part of the MoU, which was signed between NIE's Centre for Research and Consultancy (CRC) and Labland Biotechs here on Wednesday, a bio-energy park will be set up on a six-acre plot of the NIE Foundation at Koorgalli on the outskirts of Mysore.

Apart from carrying out research and development programmes, the two organisations will also set up an educational and training centre for those interested in bio-diesel.

Addressing presspersons, S. Shamsundar, co-ordinator of bio-diesel collaborative project, NIE, said the rapid depletion of traditional fuel sources such as petroleum and diesel and the continuing upsurge in their demand had underscored the importance of renewable fuel sources. Hence, bio-diesel obtained from plants had emerged as a viable alternative to fossil fuels.

Bio-diesel was an environment-friendly alternative diesel-like fuel that was obtained from the seeds of jatropha, pongameia, karanja, etc. "Among these, jatropha has been generally accepted as a viable source of bio-diesel because of a host of advantages," he said.

Referring to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's recognition for jatropha-derived bio-diesel production in the country as a priority project, Prof. Shamsundar said India proposed to grow jatropha on 75 million acres of wasteland.

Managing Director of Labland Biotechs Sudhir Shetty said that his company was in the process of developing high-yielding clones of jatropha. "Our aim is to make Mysore the technology centre for global requirement of jatropha derived bio-diesel," he added.

CRC Director B.V. Somashekar and Labland Biotech Executive Director Geeta Singh, NIE's Honorary Secretary Sreepada Rao and Principal of NIE G. Raghavendra Rao and promoter of U.S.-based Dreamfuels Limited Paul Dalton were present.