France offers technology for biodiesel, biomass power

New Delhi, Nov 26 (UNI) France has offered India its technology for the production of biodiesel from jatropha and pangamia oilseeds as part of its partnership in agri-food industry and agribusiness.

''I see potential for partnerships in biofuels, a field in which France has initiated an ambitious development plan,'' Mr Nicolas Forissier, interministerial delegate for food processing and agribusiness industries, told UNI.

He said the French Ministry of Agriculture was of the view that biodiesel production from certain oilseeds-- jatropha and pangamia-- in India could benefit from French technology.

''Biomass power generation is another area where we can bring in our know-how and expertise, in particular with Areva which already has one specialised subsidiary in India,'' he said.

Pointing out that the future of agriculture depended on the added value generated by activity downstream of production, he said India could gain a lot from France, where 70 per cent of agricultural output was processed and value-enhanced by the agri-food industry.

''France, which is the world's third largest exporter of farm and agri-food products as a whole, can play a major role primarily through its companies and their know-how in the development of India's agri-food industry and agribusiness,'' he said.

He also offered cooperation in food sanitary safety since France was generally mentioned as a benchmark country.

Pointing out that cooperative movements in farming activities and food processing had played a leading role in France, he said: ''and we are open to share our experience''.

''I am convinced that food processing, and in a broader sense adding value to agricultural products, opens constructive prospects for our two countries and our firms, in the form of new alliances in a high-growth, continually evolving sector,'' he said and expressed the hope it would lead to a long-term partnerships like those established in the automobile, aeronautics and service industries.

According to French Ambassador Dominique Girard, the more than three-century old farming cooperative movement, which witnessed real growth from 19th century onwards in France, can be a good socio-cooperative model for India to emulate.

The movement, which made France into a world leader in milk products, especially cheese, sparked off similar revolutions in watch industry and later in the IT sector in the country.

''From cheese model, grew other models,'' he said, and added that India could learn a lot from the French farmers and cooperatives.

''India need not copy a model, but can draw lessons from other people's history,'' he pointed out.

Mr Forissier was here as part of his government's initiative to support French small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to set up shops here or have collaborations with Indian companies in dairy and meat products, wine and other agribusineses.

He will be visiting India quite often, and will also be here in the first week of December to participate in the Indo-French Business Meet.

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