TOI/PUNE/12th Mar. ’09: For 37-year-old Leena Karia, organic food is an indispensable part of her daily diet. She has been on organic foods for the past five years and thinks there’s a definite difference between organic and inorganic vegetables. “Vegetables definitely taste and feel more fresh,” she says. “However, you can’t really tell the difference in other stuff, including foodgrains, pulses and spices. I buy organic because I know it is good for my family,” she explains.

With many stores in the city now opting to stock only healthy and organic food, there’s much more choice in terms of both food and drink for the customer. What’s on offer include foodgrains like brown rice, pulses like rajma, sunflower seeds, alfalafa seeds, palm jaggery, tofu, pumpkin seeds, soya snacks, organic spices like aniseed, asafoetida, black pepper, cardamom and drinks like soya milk, amla juice, karela (bitter gourd) juice, aloe vera juice and triphala (three fruits) juice.

Neeta Baqaya opened her health and organic food store in Koregaon Park in 1999, but it’s only now that people are becoming aware of organic food, she says. “While we do have many foreigners among our customers, we have an equally large number of Indian customers who have decided to opt for a healthier way of eating,” she says. Some of her customers, she adds, are as young as 12 years old! “These young kids opt for low-fat snacks which are baked, aloe vera juice is also a big seller as are the different types of ayurvedic medicinal herbs like ashwagandha’ which are beneficial to health and help you deal with ailments.”

Rakeshh Chandra started his health and organic food store in November 2007. He says he too has noticed a change in peoples’ attitude. At first people were unaware about organic food he says, but today his regular customers try everything from organic flour to juices. “Aloe vera juice is a good detoxifier. It is also good for arthritis and joint pains depending on the quantity consumed. How many people know this?” he asks.

Not many people know the difference between organic food and natural food either, says Chandra. “Organic food has been grown without the use of any chemicals whatsoever, but the same cannot be said about natural food. Natural food is something that is not processed and also does not have preservatives, but on the other hand chemicals can or must have been used on the plant,” he explains.

Nutritional therapist Vijaya Sathe has been actively promoting organic food in the city for quite a while now. People deserve to know about it so that they can adopt a healthy way of eating, she says. “Organic food is balanced with all forms of nutrients, including proteins and minerals and that is thanks to the healthy way it is grown. Also, it is much more tasty since it does not have chemicals or pesticides. People are definitely more aware now and we keep conducting exhibitions and lectures on organic food to increase this awareness,” she says.

Sheetal Rajhans (35) makes it a point to buy organic foodgrains and pulses knowing that it is the only way her kids, who otherwise love junk food, will have something healthy and chemical-free. “We eat out once in while so that makes up our junk food quota! I do, however, make sure that my kids have organic food most of the time. No karela or amla juice for us but brown rice and tofu is a favourite,” she says.

Owner of an organic vegetable and fruit store in Koregaon Park, Eknath Karale, is part of a group of farmers that are involved in organic farming. “We started off in April last year and since then our customer base has increased steadily. We stock up on about 15 vegetables and six types of fruits of which okra, cauliflower, banana and sweetlime are amongst the most popular. People are definitely more aware of the advantages of organically grown vegetables and fruits than ever before,” Karale explains.

10 February, 2009, Pune: Praj Industries, the globally leading biofuels technology & solutions Company announced break-through in cellulosic biomass to ethanol technology at Pilot Scale. Praj formally inaugurated its cellulosic ethanol pilot plant at its R & D Centre called Praj Matrix – The Innovation Centre near Pune.

The Laboratory facility at Praj Matrix was put into operation in April 2008 with the objective of promoting basic research and its scale up for non-food biofuels and industrial biotech processes. The first phase of the scaled up program has now been achieved with this break-through wherein the pilot plant has successfully demonstrated production of ethanol from corn cob and sugarcane bagasse under varying operating conditions. This follows proven bench scale process development for which Praj has already filed for patents.

“We are proud to say that Praj Matrix facilities can now be counted as the best-in-class advanced biofuels research facilities across the globe. It is perhaps also the only one of its kind on this side of the hemisphere. In fact, the break-through puts us right on top of the league with advanced nations”, said Pramod Chaudhari, Chairman, Praj.

As production of ethanol is expected to double by 2012, feedstock expansion has become a top agenda, fostering intensive R & D activities in this field. Most of the R & D has been promoted in USA and some in Europe, mainly assisted through government grants. Praj Matrix advanced biofuels pilot plant will propel India into a different league of countries pursuing sustainable and secure energy resources.

“On the occasion of our silver jubilee year celebrations, we dedicate Praj Matrix Pilot Plant to all Prajiites, employees and stakeholders, who have demonstrated unstinting support towards this dream which has now come much closer to realization”, added Pramod Chaudhari, Chairman Praj.

“Further work would also involve scaling up to the next level of ‘commercial demo plant’ where the Company plans to add on the cellulosic module to an existing conventional distillery where the basic feedstock is easily available. We are already in discussions with a few distilleries and have received encouraging responses from them. Very soon we will start execution of the commercial demo plant”, added Shashank Inamdar, CEO & MD, Praj Industries.

These breakthroughs are expected to present a new set of opportunities for Praj.

“We are also working on technologies where the approach of cellulosic ethanol production process can be made widely applicable to other industrial chemicals/products. This will enable Praj to gain foot-prints in the domain of Industrial Biotech.” Said Balu Sarma, Chief Technology Officer, Praj-Matrix.

The strength of scientists and technologists at R & D has gone up to seventy five in a span of a year comprising of doctoral and post graduates in different fields.

Vinod Khosla, one of the investors in Praj, shared his appreciation by saying, “On the occasion of Silver Jubilee celebrations of Praj, I am glad to note of the achievement of Praj Matrix to bring about a break-through technology in cellulosic biomass to ethanol. The Pilot Plant indeed is a milestone and will certainly put Praj in the big league of advanced biofuels. I foresee renewable fuels to sustain challenges through innovation, such as these. Pramod and his team have indeed done well.”

“People like Vinod and many other shareholders have given us faith that we are pursuing the right path. We see a promise of greater magnitude and possibilities in this break-through and will continue to lead in renewable, green energy solutions”, said Pramod Chaudhari.

About Praj Industries Limited:

Praj is a global Indian company that offers innovative solutions to significantly add value in bio-ethanol, bio-diesel and brewery plants and related wastewater treatment systems as well as process plant & equipment for customers, worldwide. Praj is a knowledge based company with expertise and experience in Bioprocesses and engineering. It delivers know how, License, engineering design, plant & equipment. Project management, commissioning and customer care and turnkey projects. Led by an accomplished and caring leadership, Praj is a socially responsible corporate citizen. Praj is listed on the Bombay and National Stock Exchanges of India. BioCnergy Europa B.V., The Netherlands, Praj Jaragua Bioenergia S.A., Brazil are JV Companies of Praj, while Praj Schneider, USA is a wholly owned subsidiary.

About Praj Matrix-the innovation centre:

Spread across 5 acres of land near Pune, Praj’s state-of-the-art R & D facilities, Matrix – The Innovation Center spearheads technological research and development. The facility houses 14 laboratories including clean room facilities, and Pilot Plants for cellulosic and conventional ethanol, and biodiesel. It also houses a brewery laboratory as per European Brewing Convention standards. Praj invested in R & D way back in 1989 wherein it concentrated upon employing biotechnology for developing cutting edge processes for ethanol production based on various feed stocks. Praj Matrix employs highly qualified professionals from different technical disciplines including fermentation and microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, genetic engineering, chemical sciences, algal sciences, analytical chemistry, and process technology and engineering. Praj Matrix has nine patents to its credit and has six patent pending applications. Focused on biotech related R & D, Praj Matrix – The Innovation Center is concurrently working on other industrial biotech programs focused on biochemicals and health and wellness products.