A six member delegation from Israel, led by Nir Ohad, Director, Department of Molecular Biology and Ecology of Plants, Tel Aviv University visited PAU and discussed areas of collaborative research between the two institutions. The Israeli delegates were accompanied by Professors from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala.

While outlining strategies to strengthen collaboration, Professor Ohad described research, education and outreach as the three areas that can be explored for mutual interest. While laying special emphasis on bringing researchers and students across the world for research on food security, he discussed the under graduate and Post graduate programmes available at TAU for international students.

Haya Friedman, Head, Department of Post Harvest Science of Fresh Produce, ARO, shared advances in food storage with respect to special sensors developed to detect bacterial infection and food quality. She further revealed that due to high tech grain storage in Israel, grain loss is less than 1%.

Eyal Fridman, ARO, shared Israel Space Agency’s consultation with European Space Agency and NASA to use remote sensing technology for soil mapping with respect to fertility, moisture content etc.

In his remarks, PAU Vice Chancellor, Dr B.S. Dhillon shared the similarity of agro climatic conditions between India and Israel as reasons conducive to bilateral or trilateral collaborations. He highlighted research in horticulture, post harvest management, sensor based technology and fertigation, along with exchange of faculty and students as prospective areas to collaborate.

Students of the University had an interactive session with Asia Desk Manager of TAU, Danna Mattas-Applerot, giving them information about study programmes at TAU.

Dr M.S. Reddy, Professor of Biotechnology from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology described work being done at the institute for the cause of food security and sought help in form of collaboration with PAU to help strengthen the department of biotechnology in the institute.

PAU Registrar, Dr R.S. Sidhu shared the capacity building of senior scientists of PAU as vital to the University’s progress and to this regard he looked forward to inking pact with Volcani Center of Israel.

The delegates later visited the Crop Museum, Mushroom Production Unit, School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Food Industry Center, Department of Food Processing and Food Engineering, Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering and Department of Soil and Water Engineering.