CSIR–National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR–NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hyderabad-based biotechnology start-up 3CousinLabs (3CL) to evaluate the commercial viability of producing bioethanol from seasonal fruits. The agreement, formalised on Thursday, 2 July, could open a new feedstock pathway for India's biofuel sector while simultaneously addressing post-harvest losses in horticulture.

What the MoU Covers

The partnership centres on a consultancy project titled 'Pilot-Scale and Feasibility Studies for the Production of Ethanol from Fruit Pulp and Juices'. Under the arrangement, CSIR–NIIST will provide pilot-scale validation, process optimisation, and engineering support before any commercial deployment of the technology developed by 3CousinLabs.

The MoU was exchanged between CSIR–NIIST Director C. Anandharamakrishnan and 3CousinLabs Managing Director P. Srinivas, in the presence of scientists, company representatives, and project collaborators.

Pilot Trials and Technical Scope

As part of the feasibility study, CSIR–NIIST will conduct pilot-scale trials in batches of 150–200 litres to generate critical engineering data for technology validation, scale-up, and techno-economic assessment. The project will assess the potential of converting a wide range of seasonal fruits available in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana into bioethanol.

3CousinLabs, incubated at the Atal Incubation Centre–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology Medical Biotechnology Complex in Hyderabad, has already developed processes to produce bioethanol from fruits including mango, pineapple, watermelon, jackfruit, and tomato.

Impact on Farmers and Post-Harvest Losses

A key motivation behind the initiative is the productive utilisation of surplus, unsold, and processing-grade fruits that are routinely wasted due to their perishable nature. Converting such agricultural surplus into bioethanol could reduce post-harvest losses, improve resource efficiency, and generate an additional income stream for farmers and farmer producer organisations.

Officials noted that the technology could also promote value addition within the horticulture sector and advance circular economy principles by channelling agricultural waste into clean, renewable energy.

Alignment with National Biofuel Goals

The project is aligned with the Centre's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, which encourages diversification of ethanol feedstocks to strengthen India's renewable energy ecosystem and bioeconomy. Notably, India has been progressively raising its ethanol blending targets, and expanding feedstock diversity beyond sugarcane is considered critical to sustaining that trajectory.

Successful pilot validation at CSIR–NIIST is expected to pave the way for the establishment of decentralised bioethanol production units utilising locally available seasonal fruits — and, potentially, for wider industrial adoption of the technology.