03/08/2012 (IBNLive.com) - Dr Shinoj Subramanian, programme coordinator, Krishi Vigyan Kendra of the ICAR in Ernakulam, Kerala, has developed and characterised a oil palm fibre filled liner low density polythelene biocomposite, which has been presented with the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru award for the outstanding doctoral thesis research for the year 2011. The research by former Phd scholar in the department of Agriculre process Engineering in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), has evaluated its physical, mechanical, electrical, optical, thermal degradation and rheological proporties, a TNAU release said here today. This biocomposite could be a substitute for plastics and could help reduce plastic consumption and utilisation of oil palm fibre help easy disposal and would also be remunerative to the oil palm industry, it said . The award, instituted by ICAR, carrying a medal, a citation and Rs 50,000 cash, was presented by union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar recently at Delhi, it said.