Department of Botany is organizing a webinar series on Conservation and Restoration Ecology on 16th December, 2020 at 11.00 a.m.
Webinar on Impact of Biotechnological Advances in Crop Improvement held virtually
A Botany webinar on Impact of Biotechnological Advances in Crop Improvement was held virtually today at GGDSD College, Chandigarh. Dr. Dr. Isha Sharma from Agribiotech Foundation, PJTS Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Telangana State emphasized upon use of various biotechnological tools for crop Improvement.
Dr. Isha is recipient of various prestigious awards including Ramalingaswamy Fellowship by Department of Biotechnology (Govt. of India); Post-Doctoral fellowship from VIB-Gent Center for Plant System Biology, Belgium. She has been a Post Doctoral fellow at Augusta University, Georgia; Qatar University and Full Bright Doctoral fellow at North Carolina State University, USA.
The webinar focused on paradigm shift in the role of Modern Plant Biotechnology that has led to providing solutions to food scaricity, better nourished crops, sustainable environment. She enlightened the participants on the latest initiatives and research avenues like biofortification, transcriptomics, molecular farming and phenomics that can provide solutions to many of the problems. She discussed how Modern Biotechnology can help in crop improvement and aid the farmer’s to increase their produce. Poverty-stricken rural populations that are confronted with inadequate water resources, low crop productivity, food insecurity, a deteriorating environment, and hunger can benefit with improvised methods. Opportunities and constraints in developing countries in the field of Biotechnology are of significance in responding to these challenges. Biotechnological tools are important for multiplication and genetic enhancement of crop plants.
The virtual webinar organized by Department of Botany, GGDSD College provided an opportunity for the students and teachers to interact with the resource person and update their knowledge. The webinar was attended by more than 100 participants virtually from the colleges in and around Chandigarh. Dr. Balraj Thapar, Principal of the college emphasized upon the current needs of the farmers and congratulated the speaker on sensitizing the students on the related issue. The role of eminent speakers like Dr. Isha with an expertise in the field of crop improvement was highly applauded by Dr. Jasveen Dua, Head, Department of Botany. The success of the virtual webinar is due to consistent efforts of the faculty of the department and technical team of the college.
