Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has secured Rs 2.51 crore in funding for an ambitious international research project focused on onion breeding and other key horticultural crops. The project comes under the AI-ENGAGE programme, an initiative launched by QUAD countries, the United States, Australia, Japan, and India, to foster collaborative agricultural research and build resilience in farming practices.
The project, titled “Image-based phenotyping and multi-omic prediction schemes for horticultural crop improvement,” is led by Dr. Jiffinvir Singh Khosa, Principal Investigator at PAU, and Dr. Dhritiman Saha, Co-Principal Investigator from the ICAR-Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET), Ludhiana.
In collaboration with leading researchers from Cornell University (USA), University of Tokyo (Japan), University of Adelaide (Australia), and University of Western Australia, the project represents a major stride in India’s growing engagement with high-end agricultural science and technology.
The research aims to develop AI-driven image-based tools integrated with multi-omics datasets, a state-of-the-art approach combining genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, to predict and enhance desirable traits in key crops like tomato, onion, and strawberry.
These tools will empower plant breeders to achieve higher genetic gains, enabling the development of climate-resilient, high-yield, and superior-quality plants that can better withstand environmental challenges and meet rising food demands.
Beyond its scientific goals, the project will also strengthen international research partnerships and create opportunities for knowledge exchange and joint training programmes, fostering innovation and capacity building across institutions.
PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal congratulated the research team, describing the achievement as a “major step towards internationalizing PAU’s research footprint.” Dr. Nachiket Kotwaliwale, Director of ICAR-CIPHET, lauded the scientists for their pioneering use of AI in horticultural research.
Dr. Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director of Research, and Dr. Sat Pal Sharma, Head of the Department of Vegetable Science, also praised the team for advancing AI-based breeding efforts and encouraged them to develop breeder-friendly systems to accelerate crop improvement.
