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Ludhiana, March 21: Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, hosted an interactive meeting with Prof. Venkatesh Meda from the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, on March 20 in the Committee Room of the Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology (COAE&T). Dr. M.I.S. Gill, Dean of Postgraduate Studies, PAU, coordinated the session to explore academic and research collaborations between the two leading agricultural institutions.
During the meeting, Prof. Meda provided an overview of the University of Saskatchewan’s global academic footprint, cutting-edge research programs, and extensive experience in international partnerships. A fruitful exchange of ideas ensued between delegates from both universities, focusing on possible collaborations such as Indo-Canadian student and faculty exchange programs, joint research projects in Processing and Food Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering, and the integration of AI and Machine Learning in Agriculture. Other avenues discussed included webinars, joint publications, co-hosted conferences, scholarships, and funding mechanisms to support collaborative initiatives.
Dr Manjeet Singh, Dean, COAE&T, PAU, spoke about the recent launch of S-DISA, a digital platform for smart farming, and the university’s new academic programs, including the PG Diploma in Mechatronics and M.Tech in Robotics in Agriculture. Dr. R.S. Sethi, Additional Director of Research, GADVASU, shared insights into ongoing Indo-Canadian educational exchanges involving GADVASU and the University of Saskatchewan.
From PAU’s side, Dr S.S. Sooch, Head of the Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, and Dr T.C. Mittal, Head of the Department of Processing and Food Engineering, showcased PAU’s strengths in sustainable energy utilisation, biogas, post-harvest technologies, and farmer-centric agro-processing innovations.
Prof. Meda commended PAU’s interdisciplinary research and expressed keen interest in emerging areas such as Hydrothermal Liquefaction, Biomass Valorization, Advanced Post-Harvest Technologies including Magnetic Field Assisted Freezing, Ozonation, and Refractance Window Drying, as well as sensor-based AI and IoT applications in agri-food supply chains.
The meeting concluded with a mutual proposal to formalise a collaborative partnership between Punjab Agricultural University and the University of Saskatchewan. Both sides expressed gratitude, signalling the beginning of a promising academic alliance.
