Our Armed Forces are deployed in vast and diverse geographical areas having different and difficult combat conditions. These situations demand research and development in life sciences to meet health requirements of troops. The Defence Research and Development Organisation, therefore, besides doing research and development on weapon systems has a group of life sciences laboratories. This group covers research in high altitude agriculture, food technology, human physiology, psychology, nuclear medicine, disease diagnostics and management etc.

Different DRDO establishments are engaged in development of appropriate technologies for unique food and health requirements of persons behind the weapon under unusual and abnormal environment. Technologies developed by this group of laboratories has a wide range of civil applications in the country.

Development of appropriate technologies for local availability of fresh vegetables and milk at high altitudes, combat rations (compo pack, meals-ready-to-eat, survival rations), fodder for mules (animal transport in Army), management of acute mountain sickness, frost-bite, chil blain, high altitude pulmonary oedema, stresses, rapid acclimatisation, updating psychological selection tests, several disease diagnostic kits including radiopharmaceutical, herbal routes for prophylactic and cure of ailments caused by biological and chemical agents, protective devices against radiation etc are an acknowledged contribution of these laboratories. These developments are a result of refinement of available biotechnology, innovation of new technologies and their combined use.

DRDO has enhanced emphasis on life sciences through its recently established Life Science Research Board for quality research support in life sciences in the country. To concentrate further on life sciences, a DRDO programme is under preparation. It would cover research in material, medical and plant biotechnology. Hopefully, this programme would grow to a major DRDO mission mode project in near future for meeting emerging needs of the Armed Forces. This may have substantial spin-off benefit for the society. Use of genome research without sacrificing the ethics would be attempted under this programme.

On food front, DRDO tried to provide long shelf-life retort foods. There is ample scope and possibility to enhance this shelf-life. It would essentially require greater research leading to development of packaging technology and material. Indigenous technology would find better acceptance among the troops and trade. DRDO interaction with food industry is likely to yield better food for troops in all conditions. Development of space foods would become an important requirement in this century for which DRDO has already made some progress. Biowaste particularly human waste management in defence is unique which needs extensive research in life sciences. Efforts of DRDO in this direction are likely to solve the problem. Conversion of biowaste into bioenergy is a desirable and practical route.

To maintain high morale of defence personnel, it is essential to provide food of their liking. Fresh foods are preferred. DRDO high altitude agricultural laboratories would keep pace with agri-research for developing appropriate agro-technologies such as greenhouse, hydroponics, aeroponics, mulch, fertigation, transgenics (abiotic and biotic stress tolerance), integrated nutrients and pest management, organic farming etc to make fresh foods available to troops locally in high altitudes. The increasing awareness and no side-effect factor would facilitate dominance of herbal treatment of diseases. DRDO’s sporadic efforts are being consolidated and streamlined as multi-institutional projects to generate scientific data on herbs and their products besides finding their new uses as immuno-modulators, antioxidants, radioprotectors etc. Documentation of traditional knowledge of herbs of high altitudes is another thrust area. Herbal treatment of diseases like malaria, leucoderma and eczema and herbal repellents against mosquitoes, black flies, land leeches and other haematophagus insects are likely to be popular which would be another significant contribution of DRDO. Development of special product out of herbs would improve troops’ health and defence preparedness.

A blend of physical and life sciences would be the order of day in useful and smart technology development, viz coupling of biosensor techniques with fibre-optic technology. To accurately detect and quantify the levels of pathogens present, an end of an optic fibre is to be dipped in food sample. Such technologies would help in minimising cases of food poisoning. The Army’s requirement of quick and easy way to detect pathogens in stored foods in various environment can be met by such technologies. A close coupling disease diagnosis and treatment through biological microchips or biochips and related technologies are likely to be common in near future. Biochip technologies are going to be developed and perfected for drug discovery and medical treatment, disease diagnostics, environmental restoration (detection of organic pollution and their bio-management), crime detection and speedy testing of agricultural products. DRDO, through its Life Sciences Research Board, is actively considering bringing other science departments together for an appropriate biochip technology programme.