CSIR-NIIST transfers bio tableware, plant leather tech

Seaweed prime raw material for making tableware, leather substitutes

Trivandrum / March 7, 2024

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar. 07: CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST) today inked a pact with Tamil Nadu-based Aquagri Processing Pvt. Ltd. for transferring the technology it developed for manufacturing multi-use biodegradable tableware and plant leather alternatives from seaweed and chitosan.

Aquagri Processing is a venture in which Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO), one of the world’s leading agri-sector co-operatives, has 50 per cent stake.

Dr. C Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, and Shri Tanmaye Seth, Director, Aquagri Processing, exchanged the MoU at a function held on its campus at Pappanamcode, here.

IFFCO has 50 percent shareholding in Aquagri, through its wholly-owned subsidiary IFFCO Bazar Ltd. since 2017. Aquagri is engaged in the production of seaweed-based organic products for use in agriculture, animal husbandry, and food processing.

Dr Anandharamakrishnan said this collaboration brings together NIIST's expertise in developing cutting-edge technologies with Aquagri's experience in seaweed cultivation and processing, and IFFCO's extensive agricultural distribution and farmer connect.

Noting that India’s 8100 km-long coastline has an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.17 million km2 (equal to 66 percent of the total mainland area), Dr Anandharamakrishnan said nearly 30 percent of human population is one way or another, dependent on the rich exploitable coastal and marine resources.

According to him, utilization of sea waste (seaweed and chitin) for the production of multi-use biodegradable products and plant leather alternatives will help increase the income of farmers in rural coastal regions in India as well as the world through value addition and also reduce the biomass pollution in sea waste. 

The technology was developed by the CSIR NIIST team led by Dr. Anjineyulu Kothakota, Scientist, CSIR-NIIST.

 Shri Seth said the transferred technology will enable the company to establish a pilot production facility in Manamadurai, Tamil Nadu, to manufacture leather alternatives (vegan

leather), crafted from seaweed, chitosan, and carrageenan. This eco-friendly alternative offers a sustainable and ethical solution for the leather industry, he said.

Multi-use biodegradable tableware is made from the same sustainable seaweed-based materials and this innovative tableware provides a plastic-free and environmentally friendly option for consumers.

The Indian coastline, with its different coastal ecosystems, supports the luxuriant growth of diverse seaweed populations, having considerable economic importance.The developed technology is found to be ideal for replacing single-use plastics as well as low carbon footprint.

Thiruvananthapuram-based National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) is a constituent laboratory of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Ends