Archive · 28 Oct 2025
PAU Secures Rs 2.51 Crore Grant for International Agri-Research Project
Imagine scientists want to grow better onions, tomatoes, and strawberries.
They got a big pot of money, about 2.5 crore rupees, from four countries: the US, Australia, Japan, and India.
This money is for a special project to help farmers grow healthier plants.
They will use special cameras to look at plants and lots of data from the plants themselves.
This will help them figure out how to grow the best possible fruits and vegetables in the future.
It's like using super-smart technology to help plants grow strong and healthy, making farming better for everyone.
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) scientists received Rs 2.51 crore in funding.
The grant is part of a QUAD countries' initiative for next-generation agriculture.
The project focuses on developing image-based phenotyping and multi-omics datasets.
The goal is to improve horticultural crops through predictive breeding schemes.
The research involves international collaboration with universities from the US, Japan, and Australia.
- Who
- Two scientists from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana (Principal Investigator Jiffinvir Singh Khosa and Co-PI Dhritiman Saha from CIPHET)
- What
- Secured a grant of Rs 2.51 crore for an international research project focused on developing image-based phenotyping tools and multi-omics datasets for predictive breeding in horticultural crops.
- When
- The grant was secured for programs launched by the QUAD countries.
- Where
- The research will be conducted in collaboration with universities from the USA, Japan, Australia, and India.
- Why
- To empower next-generation agriculture (AI-ENGAGE) and make agriculture more resilient through international research collaboration.
- Grant Amount
- Rs 2.51 crore
- Funding Program
- QUAD Countries' AI-ENGAGE Program
- Participating Countries
- USA, Australia, Japan, India
- Research Focus
- Image-based phenotyping and multi-omic prediction schemes for horticultural crop improvement
- Lead Institution
- Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana
- Collaborating Universities
- Cornell University (USA), University of Tokyo (Japan), University of Adelaide (Australia), University of Western Australia