Expert talk on "Harnessing Science and Technology for
Hill Agriculture towards Wellness”
23rd February 2023
One day seminar on “Harnessing Science and Technology for Hill Agriculture towards Wellness” was organised at the Doon Business School on February 22, 2023 from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM. The programme started with theopening remarks about the sustainability of Agriculture in hilly areas andformal welcome of the scientists of International fame Dr.Ravindra N Chibbar, and Dr Monica BagaDepartment of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Canada, by Dr. I.J. Gulati (Principal of DBS).DR. Ravindra N Chibbar, Ph.D. is having W.J. White Professor & Canada Research Chairat Crop Quality (Molecular Biology & Genetics)Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Canada,and delivered talk on “Food Diversity for Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Improved Human Health.
Dr Ravindra N Chibbarwho is an authority onGenomics withexpertise of molecular biology, biochemistry, cereal chemistry delivered a scintillating talk on food sciences for the quality improvement of wheat, barley and pulse crops like lentils and chickpeas. He employed molecular biological and genomics strategies to improve grain/seed quality and agronomic performance in cereal crops and grain legumes. In grain quality his focus is to improve seed composition for human health benefits. In crop performance he used the genomics strategies to improve abiotic stress tolerance to develop ‘climate change resilient crops’ to increase crop productivity under adverse environmental conditions.Dr Monica Baga also actively participated in the discussions with the students.
The students of DBS thoroughly absorbed every moment of the session and faculty enthusiastically and interacted with the expert evincing keen interest in the subject area of food technology and genomics in agriculture. It was a lifetime opportunity for the students and faculty of the DBS to listen from the specialists scientists at the world level engaged in frontline science of genomics for tailoring climate smart crops with improved grain quality. The question answer session was highly informative and many pointed issues related to Vegan diet, non- veg food items, junk food items,obesity and the traditional wisdom of diet in Indian food habits were discussed. Seminar ended with the formal vote of thanks to the speakers, organisers, students and different committee members by D. M.C. Porwal (Professor and Head, Department of Forestry).