Bhubaneswar: The SOA Deemed to be University in Bhubaneswar has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Krishibandhu CropScience Private Limited (KBC), Kolkata, with the objective of establishing a collaborative framework for research and extension of industrial biotechnology. The MoU is aimed at initiating a collaborative partnership between KBC and the Centre for Industrial Biotechnology Research (CIBR) of SOA, which manufactures bioagri products like biofertiliser. KBC, which will be the marketing and research partner, will undertake product promotion, awareness generation, farmer outreach, demonstration, marketing, distribution, within mutually agreed areas. The MoU was signed between SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof Pradipta Kumar Nanda and Director and CEO of KBC Saibal Mitra. KBC aims to scale this project to 80,000 hectares across Odisha within the next five years.