6 March 2026, Pune
A Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the ICAR–Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad, Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI), Pune, and the Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE), Uttar Pradesh to promote research collaboration and the utilization of millets for bioenergy production.
The MoU was signed today during the landmark event ‘Compressed Biogas Conclave 2026 – Moving towards an Efficient and Robust CBG Production Ecosystem’, held on 6–7 March 2026 at the Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA), Pune. The agreement was signed in the presence of the Chief Guest, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways.
In his address, Shri Gadkari highlighted six key priorities for the industry: import substitution, pollution-free energy, economic viability, market sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and the promotion of indigenous technologies. He emphasized that bioenergy and biogas have significant potential and are expected to play a vital role as fuels of the future.
The MoU was formally signed by Dr C. Tara Satyavathi, Director, ICAR–IIMR, Hyderabad; Shri Sanjay Ganjoo, Director General, IFGE; and Shri Sambhaji Putingrao Kadupati, Director General, Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune.
The collaboration aims to leverage the complementary strengths of the three organizations to advance the use of millets particularly sweet sorghum, high biomass sorghum, low-lignin BMR sorghum, and high biomass pearl millet for the production of Compressed Biogas (CBG) and ethanol.
Under the partnership, ICAR–IIMR will focus on genetic improvement, feedstock development, agronomy, and sustainable production technologies for bioenergy crops. Vasantdada Sugar Institute will test and validate the developed technologies and contribute its expertise in CBG and ethanol processing as well as scaling up these technologies. The Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE) will facilitate industry linkages, policy advocacy, market integration, and promotion of the CBG ecosystem.
The event commenced with a welcome address by Dr Pramod Chaudhari, President, IFGE and Founder Chairman of Praj Industries, who welcomed the Union Minister and other distinguished delegates.
Shri Ashish Kumar, Vice Chairman, IFGE CBG Producers Forum and Managing Director, Verbio India, and Shri Annasaheb M. K. Patil, Chairman, IFGE and Former Minister of State for Rural Development, Government of India, also addressed the gathering. They highlighted the growing importance of Compressed Biogas (CBG) and discussed various government initiatives and policy frameworks aimed at strengthening CBG production and the bioenergy ecosystem in the country.
(Source: ICAR–Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad)
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