UPASI Tea Research Foundation

http://www.upasitearesearch.org/

FORMATION OF UPASI KVK: UPASI set up a Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in 1983 under the auspices of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), with the main objective of promoting the cultivation of tea specific to the hilly, rural areas of the Nilgiris, imparting training on scientific crop husbandry techniques and allied subjects to the small farmers, estate workers and economically weaker sections. THE TEA RESEARCH INSTITUTE: The UPASI Tea Research Institute (TRI) is located near the Nirar Dam in Valparai, Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu. The Institute is 120 km from Coimbatore city, 80 km from Pollachi and 12 km from Valparai town. Situated at an altitude of 1050 m above MSL, the average annual rainfall in the area is 400 cm. The maximum and minimum temperatures vary from 30°C to 12°C and relative humidity from 90 to 50 per cent. Occasionally temperatures drop even to 7°C or 6°C. Out of the 63.3 ha available to the Tea Experimental Farm, 36 ha are planted, mostly with clonal teas. Additionally, the Tea Board has handed over 36.4 ha adjoining this area. Work is under way in planting this area with all the available tea clones, Camellia species and all other genotypes to establish a germplasm bank.

RGCB - Rajiv Gandhi Centre For Biotechnology

www.rgcb.res.in

Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology is the only institution of its kind within the country, exclusively devoted to Biotechnology, focusing precisely on translational research. All RGCB research programs are created with the underlying concept of “bench to bedside” and “lab to land” seeking to promote better health care and improved productivity of spices and medicical plants. The institute has 6 highly focused research departments working on medical biotechnology and plant genetic engineering (Molecular Medicine, Molecular Endocrinology & Reproduction, Molecular Microbiology, Cancer Biology, Neurobiology and Plant Molecular Biology). The institute has major interdisciplinary consortium research programs on vaccine development, bioinformatics and bioprospecting for clinically bioactive compounds. A Program of Excellence in Translational Research (PETR) in collaboration with the Regional Cancer Center allows RGCB to carry out leading translational cancer research. True to it’s commitment to translating biotechnology for economic development, RGCB has started strong industrial collaboration and offers incubator facilities for start up biotech companies. RGCB has also not forgotten its social commitments to the State and provides critical services for the community.

The Center has a Regional Facility for Genetic Fingerprinting, which provides DNA analysis services for forensic & criminal investigations, paternity disputes, identification of wildlife remains, authentication of plants and seeds besides a battery of molecular diagnostics for genetic and infectious diseases. RGCB is also a major provider of laboratory and infrastructure services to other academic and research institutions. A small efficient administration runs the affairs of the center with gracious management from the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment. The institute is a major stakeholder in human resource development having one of the best doctoral programs in Biotechnology. Admissions to PhD programs take place twice every year in July and December with students being selected from those with National Research Fellowships.

Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute

www.tbgri.in

Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute (TBGRI) is an autonomous Institute established by the Government of Kerala on 17^th November 1979 and registered on 23^rd November 1979 under the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1955. It functions under the umbrella of the Science, Technology and Environment Department, Government of Kerala.

Kerala Forest Research Institute

www.kfri.org

The Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) is established under the Science and Technology Policy adopted by the Government of Kerala as an autonomous institution to undertake research in areas like forestry, biodiversity etc., that are vital to the development of the Kerala State. The Institute was registered as a society on 3rd July 1975 under the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Act, 1955. The institution fulfills a number of economic, social and environmental objectives set by the Government. In the year 2002 KFRI amalgamated with the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) along with five other R&D Centres in Kerala. Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) is a registered society and an autonomous body under the Science, Technology & Environment Department, Government of Kerala.

KFRI is strategically located in the midst of a tropical forest at Peechi about 20km East of Thrissur, in Central Kerala, India. The main campus extends over an area of 28 ha., part of the picturesque reserve forest of the Peechi Forest Range. The Institute has two sub-Centres- one at Nilambur in North Kerala and the other at Velupadam, Palapilly in Thrissur District to conduct nursery and plantation trials and other specialised research.

Centre for Ecological Engineering

www.engeco.org

Centre for Ecological Engineering

( An Environmental Organisation )

The Centre for Ecological Engineering ( ECOENG^© ) is a research based environmental organisation which works, promotes and involves in different categories of research, documentation, plans, policies and management of various environmental issues. The organisation also engaged in “Envirosocial”, “Enviropolitical”, Environomics”, “Enviocultural”,“ Envirolegal” and “Envirodevelopment” research, plans, policies and management issues. The Centre for Ecological Engineering supports and organises awareness generation, capacity building, networking, technical services, research, documentation and publication for the betterment of the society and its living beings. The organisation also seriously involves in birds study, habitat management, wildlife conservation & management, conservation, management and wise use of natural resources. Conservation of water & wetlands, flood & riverbank researches is organisation’s main field of activities. The organisation also supports, organise and disseminate information in a way that the better organised sections of the society get to hear the problems and perspective of the less organised. The Centre for Ecological Engineering has been registered on 5^th August 2003 at Kolkata under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961, West Bengal, India.