13 November 2025, Hyderabad
A one-day workshop on Promotion of Millets, especially Sorghum and Pearl Millet, for Ethanol and CBG Production was organised today at the ICAR–Indian Institute of Millets Research, Global Centre of Excellence on Millets (Shree Anna), Hyderabad, in collaboration with the Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE). The programme served as an important platform for knowledge exchange, practical insights, and dialogue among researchers, experts, and industry stakeholders on the use of sweet sorghum, high-biomass sorghum, low-lignin sorghum, and forage pearl millet as promising feedstocks for ethanol and compressed biogas (CBG) production.
In her inaugural address, Dr. C. Tara Satyavathi, Director, ICAR–IIMR, underscored the multifaceted significance of millets as sustainable crops for food, feed, fodder, and fuel. She highlighted the institute’s research advancements and its global leadership in the domain of millets.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Y. B. Ramakrishna, Senior Vice President, IFGE, and former Chairman of the Working Group on Biofuels (MoPNG), outlined the immense potential of sweet sorghum for 1G and 2G ethanol as well as CBG production. He emphasized the availability of diverse sorghum feedstocks adaptable to various agro-climatic regions and urged greater industry participation to bolster India’s green energy mission.
Mr. Sanjay Ganjoo, Director General, IFGE, presented an overview of the federation’s national initiatives and stressed the need for continued research and innovation to reduce carbon emissions and advance sustainable bioenergy. He also highlighted the importance of strong collaborations between industry stakeholders and ICAR–IIMR, a leader in developing high-yielding cultivars of sorghum and forage pearl millet.
The technical sessions, which included presentations on Energy Sorghums: Potential Feedstocks for Biofuel and Bioenergy Production and Biomass Potential of Pearl Millet for Bioenergy Production, were widely appreciated for their scientific clarity and practical relevance.
A dedicated session on IP Management at ICAR–IIMR, provided participants with insights into patents, copyrights, trademarks, and technology transfer processes. He explained how industries and entrepreneurs can collaborate effectively with the institute.
The workshop saw active participation from about 40 delegates representing academic institutions and industries. A field visit to ICAR-IIMR’s sorghum and forage pearl millet experimental plots offered participants firsthand exposure to advanced crop varieties and technologies.
The programme concluded with a collective commitment to strengthen collaboration among ICAR–IIMR, IFGE, and industry partners to accelerate research, technology dissemination, and large-scale adoption of biofuel and bioenergy solutions.
(Source: ICAR–Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad)
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