The Northern India Textile Research Association
(NITRA), based in Ghaziabad, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CSIR–National
Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) in Lucknow. This
agreement aligns with India’s broader commitment to
promoting sustainable innovation in the textile sector.
The collaboration will focus on carrying out a detailed
genomic study of Asclepias, commonly known as
milkweed, a native plant with promising potential for
eco-friendly fibre production. The announcement of the
MoU was made in the presence of Giriraj Singh, the Union
Minister of Textiles. The research aims to better
understand the genetic makeup of milkweed to maximize
its value as a sustainable raw material and present it as a
viable natural fibre alternative.
Milkweed fibres are known for being lightweight,
biodegradable, and having good insulation properties.
These qualities make them a strong candidate for
replacing synthetic fibres in various applications,
including home textiles, technical fabrics, and clothing
insulation.
With this joint effort, NITRA and NBRI plan to boost fibre
yield, set up systems for sustainable sourcing, and explore
potential commercial uses of milkweed fibre. This
collaboration is also considered an important step towards
supporting domestic, eco-friendly fibre solutions and
contributing to the vision of a self reliant India under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative .