The document summarizes the work of the Agri-Business Incubator (ABI) at the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). ABI facilitates the creation of agribusiness enterprises by supporting entrepreneurs with technologies, expertise, funding connections, and infrastructure. Some key achievements include incubating over 10 ventures, generating employment for 180 people, and mobilizing $7 million in investments over 4 years. ABI has received national awards for its work incubating the successful sweet sorghum ethanol industry in India.

1. Agri-Business Incubator (ABI) @ International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)

2. Vision Improved well-being of the poor of the semi-arid tropics Mission To reduce poverty, enhance food and nutritional security and protect the environment of the semi-arid tropics by empowering the poor through science with a human face Pearl millet Groundnut Chickpea Pigeonpea Sorghum Our mandate crops ICRISAT’s vision and mission

3. Our strategy A research for development strategy Integrated genetic and natural resource management (IGNRM) Focus on key livelihood and income opportunities Core principles: equity, multidisciplinary, sustainability and community participation Our locations

4. ICRISAT’s new research paradigm 00 Biotech Agroecosystems Development Institutions, Markets, Policies & Impacts Crop Improvement Reducing rural poverty Promoting poverty alleviation & sustainable NRM Producing more & better food at lower cost Improving policies & facilitating institutional innovations Sustaining biodiversity Improved well-being of the poor of the semi-arid tropics

5. Research themes Crop improvement and management Biotechnology Agro-ecosystems development Institutions, markets, policies and impacts

6. Agri-Science Park @ ICRISAT A convergence of agricultural partnerships, innovations and products for the poor ASP enhances the development, promotion and utilization of technologies from ICRISAT and its research partners Goal: To help achieve ICRISAT’s mandate to “develop agriculture in the SAT” and thereby reduce poverty and hunger, as well as protect the environment. Vision : To become the premier Agri-Science Park in South Asia. Mission: To be a “hub” for public-private partnerships that enhances the development and commercialization of science-generated technologies and knowledge through market mechanisms.

7. Agri-Science Park @ ICRISAT Convergence of biotechnology innovations, partnerships, and products for the poor Research Consortium Agri-Business Incubator (ABI) Ag-biotech Innovation Center (AIC) SAT Eco-Venture Hybrid Parent Research Consortium (HPRC) Bio-products Research Consortium (BRC) ICRISAT-Private Sector Sweet Sorghum Ethanol Research Consortium (SSRC)

8. Agri-Business Incubator @ICRISAT Mission “ Facilitate creation of competitive Agri-business enterprise through technology development and commercialization” supported by DST, Govt. of India in 2003

9. Agri-Business Incubator (ABI) Set up with NSTEDB-DST, Govt of India support in 2003 Facilitates creation of competitive agri-business enterprise through technology development and commercialization Entrepreneurs supported with agri-technology, consultancy, networking with management experts, venture capital funding, marketing experts and physical infrastructure Maximizes success by minimising risk

10. Promote technologies developed by ICRISAT or jointly developed with collaborators. Agri-technologies developed by other R&D centers of excellence, universities, ICAR, CSIR, and other institutions. Provide infrastructure on cost-basis, business plan development, and assist in obtaining financial assistance from Development Banks and Institutions. Help with Business Start-up and Support. [email_address] Approach

11. Organization of ABI Governing Board (GB) Director General ICRISAT Standing Advisory Committee (SAC) Deputy COO ABI-ICRISAT Management Support System Project Leaders of Technology Programmes to be Incubated CEOs of Companies at ABI Head, ABI-ICRISAT Deputy manager Agri-Science park at ICRISAT

12. ABI Advisory Board Chairman Dr. William D Dar DG-ICRISAT Advisory Members Mr. Sharath Naru, MD APIDCVC Dr. Barwale, Chairman, MAHYCO Seeds Mr. Vijayaraghavan, Md Sathguru Management Consultants & Cornell India Program Dr. Ramakrishna, Director CRIDA Mr. Rajamani, IAS, Ex-Advisor to PM on S&T-GOI Dr. Bhatia, Ex-Secretary, DBT-GOI Dr. HK Mittal, Advisor NSTEDB, DST-GOI Dr. Farid Waliyar, MD, ASP-ICRISAT Dr. Kiran Sharma, Principal Scientist & Head ABI Secretary Mr. SM Karuppanchetty, Deputy COO, ABI

13. ABI’s Standing advisory Committee Chairman Mr. Sharath Naru, MD APIDCVC Advisory Members Mr. Vijayaraghavan, Md Sathguru Management Consultants & Cornell India Program Prof. Ramachandran, Prof. Indian School of Business (ISB) Dr. Rajesh Agarwal, Director Finance, ICRISAT Dr. Kiran Sharma, Principal Scientist & Head ABI Dr. NNS Prasad, Head FES, ICRISAT Secretary Mr. SM Karuppanchetty, Deputy COO, ABI

14. Business Framework for incubation in ABI Business Planning Capitalization Access to R&D Networks Product Development Best Practices Access to Services Value Proposition Development Exchange of Ideas Champions Networks & Alliances Access to Capital IP Identification & Protection Strategies R & D Sales & Distribution Channel Strategies Strategy Development State-of-the-Art Marketing Best Practices Specialized Facilities Business Development High Performance Incubation

15. Technologies commercialized through ABI Ethanol from Sweet sorghum (NTJ 2 & NSH 104) Transgenic cotton (Bajarangi Bt) Fermentors Biopesticides (NPV & Bacillus subtilis) Organic agriculture ICGV 91114 groundnut variety JG 11 Chickpea variety

16. ABI’s clients Ongoing projects Clients who have graduated New incubatees Biopesticides-Tablets formulation Mekins Biotech Pvt. ltd Commercial Extension & Agri-clinics Agriculture Associates of India (AAI) Bio cutlery BK Environmental Innovation Pvt. Ltd Organic Retail chain Sresta Natural bio products Fermentor New hybrids of maize & sorghum Fermentor Transgenic vegetables BT cotton Ethanol from sweet sorghum Area of Business G-Tech Seeds Hyglass Chemicals Slesser Tom Seed works (I) Pvt ltd. Bioseed Reserch ( I) Pvt. Ltd. Rusni Distilleries (I) Pvt. Ltd. Clients

17. Rusni Distilleries (I) Pvt Ltd Promoters: AR.Palaniswamy & Sai Venkat kumar Area of business: Ethanol from sweet sorghum ABI support: Sweet sorghum seeds, agri-consultancy, extension, business consultancy and escort services

18. Bioseed Research (I) Pvt Ltd Promoter: DCM Shriram Area of business: Seeds - BT Cotton ABI support: Biotechnology techniques, biosafety consultancy, biotech lab & greenhouse infrastructure

19. Seed works (I) Pvt Ltd Promoters: Balaji Nukal & Wand Partners Inc Area of business: Transgenic vegetables & BT cotton ABI support: Biotechnology techniques, biosafety consultancy, biotech lab & greenhouse infrastructure

20. Slesser Tom Promoter: Thomas Area of business: Fermentor manufacturing ABI support: Fermentor technology, design, QC, partnership arrangement

21. Hyglass Chemicals Promoter: Kumar Area of business: Fermentor marketing ABI support: Fermentor design, QC, partnership arrangement and business facilitation

22. G Tech Seed Exports Pvt Ltd Promoters: Suri Sehgal & Raman Sehgal Area of business: Hybrid seed development & export ABI support: Sorghum & pearl millet breeding, agri land & cold storage

23. Mekins Biotech Pvt ltd Promoter: Akil Agarwal Area of business: Biopesticide-tablets formulation ABI support: Biopesticide technology, business consultancy, biopesticide production infrastructure

24. Aakruthi Agriculture Associates of India (AAAI) Promoters: Chakravarthy, Subbarao and Kishore Area of business: Commercial extension - agri-clinics ABI support: Agri-consultancy, business consultancy, and escort services Bengal gram

25. Sresta Natural bio products Pvt Ltd Promoter: Rajashekar Reddy Seelam Area of business: Organic retail chain ABI support: Organic Agri-training and escort services

26. Promoter: Naryanan Peesapathy Area of business: Biocutlery ABI support: Product development and escort services BK Environmental Innovation Pvt. Ltd.

27. Sweet Sorghum Bioethanol Technology Develop improved sweet sorghum varieties, hybrids Incubate sweet sorghum-based ethanol production technology (SSEPT); ICRISAT & Rusni Distilleries tie-up through ABI Ethanol from juice of stalks after fermentation Food security not compromised

28. Indian farmers reap benefits More income from sweet sorghum cultivation Grain as food Stalks to distilleries for ethanol Stillage/leaves as fodder/fertilizer/power generation More profitable (about US$ 50 ha -1 season -1 ) than grain sorghum in India

29. Rural benefits Farmers can produce bioenergy fuels and services for local application in village-scale agri-processing enterprises and community services Stimulating rural economic development Sharing ‘best practices’ of feedstock cultivation methods and management and technical skills

30. Impacts generated by ABI 2003-2007 (4 years) Farmer beneficiaries: 10,000 Entrepreneurs supported: 15 Ventures incubated: 10 Technologies Exchanged: 7 Investment mobilized: $7 million Employment generated: 180

31. ABI’s achievements National award for the Best Incubator 2005 Best Social entrepreneur of the Country to ABI Client Rusni by the Prime Minister of India FAPCI Award for Rural development to ABI client AAI Pioneered globally by successful incubation of sweet sorghum ethanol Commercialization Of ICGV9114 groundnut variety Global outreach ABI at AREU – Mauritius FBI at IIAM - Mozambique

32. Global Outreach ABI at Agricultural Research and Extension Unit (AREU), Mauritius FBI at Institute of International Agriculture (IIAM), Mozambique

33. ISBA, Conference National Alliance ABI is executive member of Indian STEP and Business Incubation Association (ISBA) ABI had organized the 1 st ISBA Annual Conference on 27 th Feb 2007 at ICRISAT

34. 2 nd Global Forum for Business Incubation, Nov 6-10 th 2006 International Alliance ABI is a active member of Global Business Incubators Network ABI had organized the 2nd Global Forum for Business Incubation along with World Bank, DST and FICCI in Hyderabad

35. Thank you