Researchers asked to give up efforts to develop biodiesel – Indian Researcher’s Perspective
In India 60% of our edible oil requirements are met by imports. There is a lot of talk about researching algae for fuel, but it is much more valuable to convert algae into a value added product.
Professor MM Sharma, senior researcher of the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), India highlighted the fact that researchers should give up efforts to develop biodiesel from many sources including algae as it lacked commercial potential.
He said, “Biodiesel has a very little future, and in India none. I am willing to contest this anywhere. It is very easy to get funding for biodiesel research, but it has a very little commercial potential. Instead you should focus on valorization of edible oil.”
He also said that in India 60% of our edible oil requirements are met by imports. There is a lot of talk about researching algae for fuel, but it is much more valuable to convert algae into a value added product.
He asked the students to work on issues relating to water and energy. He asked the academy to start a course on technology-based economic forecasting.
“We are obsessed with economists making forecasts about inflation and other concepts, which are usually wrong. With such a course we can see what technologists can do in technology-based economic forecasting,” Sharma said.
