India’s Department of Biotechnology and a group of UK research bodies, headed by the University of Cambridge, signed a Memorandum of Understanding yesterday at the Ministry of Earth Sciences in New Delhi to launch a joint UK-India crop science programme.
The deal aims to boost joint research efforts, encourage sharing knowledge, and help build skills that improve food security resilience.
The signing was done by Vice-Chancellor Professor Leszek Borysiewicz for Cambridge, Professor Krishnaswamy Vijay Raghavan from India’s Ministry of Science and Technology, and Dr Nafees Meah representing the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
Others who signed included representatives from NIAB in Cambridge; the John Innes Centre and University of East Anglia in Norwich; plus Rothamsted Research.
Professor Leszek Borysiewicz commented: “This collaboration builds on the close links already established between leading researchers in the United Kingdom and India and is another great example of both countries’ commitment to growing our partnerships in translational and applied research.
“This collaboration will create opportunities for leading experts in the UK and India to come together to tackle global challenges in the areas of food security, crop science and biotechnology.”
Professor Vijay Raghavan said: “The United Kingdom has been a long-standing partner with the Government of India in Science and Technology, a collaboration that has grown from strength to strength.
“On the foundation of this excellence we are delighted to take a very new and very important direction in crop science. Our partners are the best in the UK and together we can be the best anywhere, working together to address a key global problem.”
Dr Tina Barsby, CEO and Director of NIAB, added: “We are delighted to be part of this international collaboration to develop and improve the translation of fundamental crop research into agronomic practice.
“We want to give farmers and growers throughout the sub-continent access to the most advanced developments in agricultural science and technology; essential for them to meet the challenges of growing crops in the face of changing climatic conditions and increasing food security demands.”
Everyone involved agreed on how important crop science is as an area full of potential for scientific teamwork. It’s also key for pushing forward global food security both within India and beyond its borders.
The agreement sets out plans for joint projects focusing on core science behind boosting yields, fighting disease, managing drought resistance; work on crop re-breeding; plus turning basic research into sustainable farming methods.
It also includes creating a shared Indo-UK Plant Science Centre based in India.
