PAU holds workshop on genome editing in agriculture

The workshop was held in association with National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute and Mohali and Biotech Consortium India

The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) recently organised a workshop on ‘Genome Editing in Agriculture: Science, Potential and Policies’ in association with National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), Mohali and Biotech Consortium India Limited (BCIL), New Delhi. The goal of the workshop was to highlight the application of innovative technologies like genome editing in the crop breeding programmes and also to create awareness among the key stakeholders viz. scientists, students, agriculture officials and industry about the technology and its potential. Around 400 active participants including scientists, students, and research fellows from PAU and nearby institutions attended the workshop and listened to learned speakers very attentively.

At the inaugural session, Dr Parveen Chhuneja, Director, School of Agricultural Biotechnology, PAU welcomed all the dignitaries and the participants. Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director of Research, highlighted the need for innovative solutions to meet the challenges being faced by agriculture. Dr Vibha Ahuja, Chief General Manager, Biotech Consortium India Limited, presented a brief overview of the workshop.

In his keynote address, Prof Ashwani Pareek, Executive Director, NABI, Mohali, pointed out the need for technological innovation. Dr Shammi Kapoor, Registrar and Dr Gurjit S Mangat, Additional Director of Research, Crop Improvement-cum-Director GS Khush Institute of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, PAU also participated in the workshop. Experts from different institutes highlighted the advancements, potential and applications of Genome Editing in two technical sessions.

Dr Navtej Singh Bains, former Director of Research, PAU, delivered an informative talk on potential applications of gene editing in the breeding field, and vegetable and fruit crops. Dr Naveen Singh Bisht explained the manipulation of mustard oil through the editing of glucosinolates in Indian oilseed mustard.

Dr Baljinder Singh Nandra from the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) provided a glimpse of the national and international status of gene-edited plants and the importance of strong linkage between scientists and industry partners.

Dr Vibha Ahuja, Chief GM, Biotech Consortium India Limited, discussed the Government of India’s policies and procedures for the approval of genome-edited crops. Scientists from NABI presented their work on increasing β-carotene content in banana and iron (Fe) content in wheat grains. Scientists from PAU, Ludhiana presented their research on starch resistance wheat and potato, increasing the tomato shelf-life, reducing the acrylamide content in wheat and potato, haploid induction, and biofuel production in sugarcane through genome editing.

Later, an interactive session was held between researchers and speakers about the future of genome editing in crop improvement.

The workshop was held in association with