Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has been awarded Rs 2.51 crore under the QUAD-led AI-ENGAGE programme to advance a cutting-edge international research project focused on onion breeding and horticultural crop improvement. The grant underscores India’s expanding role in high-end agricultural science and global food resilience initiatives.

The project — titled “Image-Based Phenotyping and Multi-Omic Prediction Schemes for Horticultural Crop Improvement” — will be led by Dr. Jiffinvir Singh Khosa, Principal Investigator at PAU, along with Co-Principal Investigator Dr. Dhritiman Saha from the ICAR-Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET), Ludhiana.

The initiative forms part of AI-ENGAGE, a collaborative agricultural research platform launched by QUAD nations — the United States, Australia, Japan, and India — to leverage advanced technologies for climate-resilient and highly productive farming systems.

Forging prestigious global partnerships, PAU researchers will collaborate with teams from Cornell University (USA), University of Tokyo (Japan), University of Adelaide (Australia), and University of Western Australia. Together, they will deploy AI-based image analytics integrated with multi-omics datasets — genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics — to accelerate the identification and prediction of high-value traits in critical crops including onion, tomato, and strawberry.

By enabling higher genetic gains and smarter varietal selection, the technology promises improved yields, enhanced quality, and greater tolerance to abiotic stress — outcomes that directly support the food security ambitions of India and allied nations.

Beyond research outputs, the project aims to deepen international collaboration through joint capacity-building, training exchanges, and knowledge-sharing platforms — reinforcing India’s innovation footprint in the global agri-tech landscape.

Congratulating the team, PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal described the achievement as “a significant step in internationalizing PAU’s research excellence and strengthening India’s contribution to global climate-resilient crop development.”

ICAR-CIPHET Director Dr. Nachiket Kotwaliwale commended the “Pioneering integration of AI and multi-omics in horticultural breeding,” while PAU research leaders Dr. Ajmer Singh Dhatt and Dr. Sat Pal Sharma emphasized the importance of breeder-friendly tools that can accelerate commercial impact for farmers and horticulture value chains.