The Department of Plant Biotechnology at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, conducted an insightful guest lecture titled “Plants as Biofactories: The Future of Sustainable Production” on January 21, 2025.
The seminar attracted a diverse audience of academicians, students, and industry experts. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Selvaraju Kanagarajan, Associate Professor of Plant Biotechnology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Örebro University, Sweden.
Dr. Selvaraju, renowned for his remarkable contributions to utilizing plants as efficient platforms for sustainable production, highlighted advanced strategies in plant biotechnology.
The session commenced with a warm welcome and speaker introduction by Dr. N. Senthil, Ph.D., FNAAS, Director of the Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (CPMB&B). He emphasized the importance of integrating cutting-edge biotechnological advancements to address global challenges like food security, climate change, and sustainable development.
During the lecture, Dr. Selvaraju elaborated on innovative approaches to developing plants as biofactories for producing pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and other high-value industrial compounds. He underscored the potential of plant-based systems to revolutionize production processes by reducing environmental impact and enhancing scalability.
The seminar concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where participants discussed topics like genetic engineering, policy frameworks, and real-world applications of plant biofactories with Dr. Selvaraju.
The event ended with a vote of thanks by Dr. E. Kokiladevi, Professor of Plant Biotechnology. This thought-provoking lecture highlighted the pivotal role of biotechnology in shaping a sustainable future and inspired participants to explore innovative research in this evolving field.
