Ludhiana, 4 November 2026:- A four-day international seminar on ‘Genome Editing for Food Security and Environmental Sustainability’ commenced at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana. Scientists, academicians and researchers from India, Canada and Germany are participating in the seminar.
Inaugurating the seminar, Dr. Jatinder Paul Singh Gill, Vice-Chancellor, highlighted the university’s collaborative programmes. He said that the programme is being implemented with the support and collaboration of a Canadian research initiative, with McGill University, the University of Saskatchewan and Punjab Agricultural University as partners. He stated that over the past six years, the programme has provided advanced training in diverse technologies through graduate courses, seminars and international training programmes. It has also promoted critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, teamwork and leadership qualities among young researchers. He emphasised the importance of multidisciplinary research in addressing challenges related to agriculture, animal sciences, food security and environmental sustainability.
Dr. Ram Saran Sethi, Dean, College of Animal Biotechnology and Organising Secretary, said that experts at the seminar are deliberating on genome editing, genomics and animal biotechnology, along with their applications in agriculture and allied fields. He added that the seminar provides young researchers with an opportunity to interact with eminent scientists and understand the practical and commercial applications of scientific research.
Dr. Jaswinder Singh, Director, McGill University, Canada, traced the development of this initiative and acknowledged the contributions of the partner institutions. Joining online, Dr. Baljit Singh, Vice-President (Research), University of Saskatchewan, emphasised interdisciplinary research and the translation of laboratory findings into practical solutions. Dr. Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director of Research, PAU, stressed the importance of solution-oriented research focused on addressing regional-level challenges and benefiting the farming community.
Various sessions featured Dr. Debasis Dash, Director, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, who discussed marine biotechnology; Dr. Ashwani Pareek, Mohali, who highlighted genome editing in agriculture; Dr. Manoj Prasad, New Delhi, who spoke about plant genomics, scientific translation and consultancy; and Dr. Ravi Kumar Gandham, Hyderabad, who highlighted the role of genomics in Zebu cattle improvement and sustainable livestock production.
Dr. Yogesh Vikas, Director, School of Agricultural Biotechnology, PAU, proposed the vote of thanks.
