PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Pantnagar
Three important Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed at Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT), Pantnagar with the objective of promoting research, training and institutional collaboration. The agreements would facilitate cooperation in traditional and local knowledge, food systems, and student training, research and knowledge exchange, said the vice-chancellor, Shivendra Kumar Kashyap.
“The university is committed to linking research with the needs of society and promoting innovation and effective transfer of knowledge. These MoUs would create new opportunities in traditional and local knowledge, food systems, training, student skill development and research. The university will continue to strengthen collaborations with reputed institutions and organizations to provide a new direction to education, research and socially relevant activities,” he added.
The first MoU was signed with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi. On behalf of the university, director Research, S K Verma and joint director, Research, P K Singh signed the agreement while the director general, TERI, Vibha Dhawan, signed on behalf of the TERI. The MoU will facilitate research on mountain agriculture, climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture along with exchange programmes for students and scientists. It will also encourage the promotion of new startups in the agricultural sector.
The second MoU was signed between the university and Soul Trek Pvt Ltd, Dehradun. The agreement was signed by the director, Kanika Rawat and Vijay Pratap Singh Rawat. Under this collaboration, cooperation will be undertaken in the areas of traditional and local food systems, indigenous knowledge, community training, women-focused training, and student training and internships. The objective is to scientifically and systematically document traditional food practices and local knowledge and make them accessible to the wider public. Emphasis will also be placed on providing students with practical training and internship opportunities.
The third MoU was signed between University Farm, Pantnagar, and Oraizo Riceghar Agroworld Private Limited, New Delhi for the revival, cultivation and commercialisation of the traditional and endangered ‘Tilakchandan’ rice variety. The MoU was signed by Chief General Manager, University Farm, Rajesh Pratap Singh on behalf of the university and Co-founder, Oraizo Riceghar Agroworld Pvt Ltd, Kaushal Jaiswal,. The agreement aims to promote scientific cultivation of the aromatic rice variety Tilakchandan, which was traditionally popular during the 1950s and 1960s, and facilitate its revival and wider availability among consumers.
