Thiruvananthapuram, July 3

In a major initiative to promote sustainable biofuel production and reduce post-harvest losses, CSIR–National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR–NIIST) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hyderabad-based biotechnology startup 3CousinLabs (3CL) to undertake pilot-scale studies for producing ethanol from seasonal fruits.

The consultancy project, titled "Pilot-Scale and Feasibility Studies for the Production of Ethanol from Fruit Pulp and Juices," aims to evaluate the technical and commercial viability of converting surplus and processing-grade fruits into bioethanol, supporting India's renewable energy and bioeconomy ambitions.

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

As part of the collaboration, CSIR–NIIST will conduct pilot-scale trials using batches of 150–200 litres to generate critical engineering and process data needed for technology validation, process optimization, scale-up and techno-economic assessment.

The studies are expected to pave the way for commercially viable decentralized bioethanol production units based on regionally available seasonal fruits in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

The project seeks to provide a sustainable solution for utilizing surplus, unsold and processing-grade fruits that are often wasted due to their perishable nature. By converting such produce into value-added bioethanol, the initiative is expected to reduce post-harvest losses, improve resource efficiency and create additional income opportunities for fruit growers and farmer producer organizations.

The collaboration also aligns with the Government of India's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, which encourages diversification of ethanol feedstocks to strengthen the country's renewable energy ecosystem. Successful pilot-scale validation is expected to support India's clean energy transition while contributing to national bioeconomy goals.

Besides its environmental benefits, the project is expected to boost rural livelihoods by creating new markets for seasonal fruits, stabilizing farmers' incomes and promoting value addition in the horticulture sector. It also advances circular economy principles by transforming agricultural surplus into a clean and renewable source of energy.
CSIR–NIIST said the partnership reflects its commitment to translating scientific research into industrial applications through collaborations with innovative startups and technology-driven enterprises.

By combining the startup's proprietary bioethanol production process with CSIR–NIIST's pilot-scale infrastructure and process engineering expertise, the partners aim to accelerate the commercialization of sustainable fruit-based bioethanol technologies in India.

Hyderabad-based 3CousinLabs, incubated at the Atal Incubation Centre, CCMB Medical Biotechnology Complex, has developed a process for producing bioethanol from seasonal fruits such as mango, pineapple, watermelon, jackfruit and tomatoes, with a focus on sustainability and value addition to agricultural produce.

The collaboration with CSIR–NIIST marks a significant milestone in validating the technology and assessing its commercial potential for wider industrial adoption.

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