Mohali-based National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with several companies for cultivation, processing, distribution and sale of indigenously-developed new-generation wheat and its products such as flour (atta), bread, biscuits, cakes and roasted snacks.
The institute has inked MoUs with Ambala-based Farm Grocer Company, Borlaug Farmers Association for Asia and Golden Agrigenetic India Ltd., Lucknow to commercialise it. Several other companies like Monica’s bakery, Bansal Namkeen and ITC have shown interest in making products from coloured wheat.
Coloured wheat contains a significant proportion of carbohydrates and dietary fibers but at the same time have lower level of sugars as compared to fruits rich in anthocyanins, making it an ideal diet to control diabetes and obesity. Coloured wheat is commercially sold in New Zealand, Canada and some European countries. But these do not thrive well in Indian climate. NABI has been, however, successful to develop seeds suitable for the Indian climate and soil conditions.