French scientists visit Nauni horticulture varsity

Solan, August 28

In a bid to explore innovative agroecology work with a focus on natural farming practices, a team of scientists from the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) are on a three-week visit to Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni.

The four-member team, led by LISIS Deputy Director Allison Marie Loconto, includes researchers Mireille Matt, Dr Evelyne Lhoste, and Dr Renee Van Dis.

Their visit is part of the European Commission-funded Agroecological Crop Protection Towards International Co-Innovation Dynamics and Evidence of Sustainability (ACROPICS) project.

Coordinated by INRAE, the project seeks to advance co-innovation in agroecological crop protection.

The project’s objective is to reduce the use of chemical pesticides through systemic innovations in agroecological crop protection, and to provide robust scientific data supporting the sustainability of these systems.

The delegation received a warm reception at the university today.

Vice-Chancellor Rajeshwar Singh Chandel welcomed the French scientists and reaffirmed the university’s dedication to advancing sustainable food systems through natural farming.

Director (Extension Education) Inder Dev provided an overview of the university’s natural farming initiatives while Director (Research) Sanjeev Chauhan talked about the university’s research activities.

Loconto gave an in-depth presentation on INRAE and the ACROPICS project.

The team toured the university’s medicinal plant farm, natural farming block, and the newly established ‘UHF Natural Store’, which features over 100 products from various natural farming-based farmer producer companies supported by the university.