ICRISAT ropes in UK varsity for research

Patancheru: Farmers around the world can be helped to grow the best food that is fit for future generations with help from a new development in the partnership between the University of Reading (Berkshire, England) and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).

An MoU was signed on Thursday which would see nutrition/health and crop scientists from the two internationally-renowned research centres commit to working closer together.

Their research will focus on tackling how crops will provide a healthy and sustainable diet for future generations that face multiple challenges including climate change and growing worldwide obesity.

Professor Ian Givens, Director of the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health at the University of Reading, said, "We are excited about this new partnership that will provide opportunities to tackle the biggest questions in global food production and are delighted that ICRISAT has chosen to work with us on this challenge.

For many years now the University of Reading has pioneered new and important research on the relationship between diet and chronic disorders such as cardiovascular disease. This approach to modern nutrition is one of the key areas that we will be working with ICRISAT in their fight to provide food fit for future generations."

Prof Rajeev Varshney, Research Program Director for Genetic Gains and Director of Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology, ICRISAT, said, "We are very excited to have this partnership with IFNH, University of Reading. With their expertise in cutting-edge areas of microbiome and nutrition research, and our research experience in genomics and modern breeding of Smart Food crops, ICRISAT is well positioned to contribute to improving nutrition in India and Sub-Saharan Africa, and support countries that provide a major proportion of food to the rest of the world."

Joanna Kane-Potaka, Assistant Director General of External Relations at ICRISAT and Executive Director of Smart Food said, "Sustainable food and health solutions will need to ensure a three-fold purpose—that they are good for you, good for the planet and good for the farmer."