Guru Nanak Dev University has established a centre for Agricultural Research and Innovation (CARI) under Rashtriya Uchchattar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA-II). The major focus of the centre is to build a world-class ecosystem for promoting research and finding innovative and meaningful solutions in the field of agriculture for the benefit of society. The centre has the mandate to integrate research and outreach education in agriculture, food systems and the environment to establish an ecologically and economically sustainable model.Today, Centre for Agriculture Research and Innovation, and the Department of Agriculture of the University has jointly signed an MoU with the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, National Chung Hsing University (NCHU), Taiwan. NCHU is known for its outstanding contributions to the research and development in the field of agriculture and natural resource conservation technology. Prof. Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. S.S. Behl, Dean Academic Affairs, Dr. P.K. Pati, Dr. Sanehdeep Kaur, Head, Department of Agriculture and Prof. Preet Mohinder Singh Bedi, Coordinatore, Industry Linkage Programme were present on this occasion.
Under this MoU, a broad agreement has been reached to promote cooperation in teaching, training and innovative research in the field of Agriculture. This academic engagement will also facilitate the exchange of faculty, students and provide an opportunity for the award of joint Ph.D degrees to students.In another significant development PUM (Programma Uitzending Managers), Netherland has identified a senior expert Mr. Carel Zwinkels for strategic mentoring of the centre to achieve excellence in the field of Agriculture. Mr. Carel has more than 40 years of horticultural technical experience and has worked in various capacities in many multi-national agriculture-based companies.Prof. Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Vice-Chancellor has expressed his gratitude to MHRD, GOI and State Govt. for providing financial assistance to the University under RUSA-II program to establish this Centre. He said that the Agricultural research centre which is set up at the University has a very strong advisory board and with the partnering of these international institutions it is surely going to bring new knowledge, technology and opportunities to agriculture and in turn will catalyse the economy of the state.