Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, stated today that the adoption of bio-bitumen strongly aligns with India's climate commitments, net-zero targets, and flagship initiatives such as "Atmanirbhar Bharat," the National Bio-Energy Mission, and circular economy frameworks. Chouhan was speaking at the signing ceremony for the technology transfer agreement titled "Bio-Bitumen via Pyrolysis: From Farm Residue to Roads" in New Delhi. He said that using farm residue for high-value infrastructure applications also provides additional income opportunities for farmers while reducing stubble burning and environmental pollution.
Meanwhile, addressing the gathering, Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, said that the technology transfer of bio-bitumen is helping to make India self-reliant. Singh stated that India currently imports almost half of its bitumen requirement, and innovations like bio-bitumen would significantly reduce foreign dependence while strengthening domestic capabilities. Dr. Singh said that bio-bitumen addresses multiple challenges simultaneously, from stubble management and environmental protection to reducing imports.