Prof PS Ramakrishnan, in his annual day lecture — Knowledge systems and sustainability concerns in the context of global change and globalisation, at National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), said that this concern is getting intensified to a great extent in the existing context of rapidly depleting natural resource base and the environmental uncertainties that are getting exacerbated due to climate change.

Ramakrishnan, an INSA honorary senior scientist, school of environmental sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi was the chief guest at NBRI’s annual day function on Saturday. Shailesh Nayak, secretary, union ministry of earth sciences, presided over the function.

Ramakrishnan further said that adverse effect of this all would have more impact on the marginalised sections of the society particularly in the developing world.

He also dwelt on the importance of using the amalgamation of traditional knowledge and modern technologies with community participatory approach for the sustainable development on the global level.

Meanwhile, Rakesh Tuli, director, NBRI presented the annual report of the institute summarising various activities undertaken and major achievements made by the institute in the past one year.

He said that institute has published a total of 115 research papers in SCI journals with a total impact factor of 161 which showed a significant increase over the last year.

NBRI received NABL accreditation for chemical testing in the areas of herbal drugs, essential oils, vegetable oils and soils.

He further reported that this year NBRI established some of the cutting edge technologies in the area of genomics and plant physiology at NBRI for doing the best of science.

Nayak in his presidential address said that NBRI has made extensive contributions in terms of scientific achievements and developed technologies of larger societal interest.