PAU students bag top honours at innovation convention
Hosted by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu and Kashmir
Students from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) emerged victorious at AgriThon 2.0, a national-level innovation challenge hosted by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu and Kashmir.
The award was conferred upon the students by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha during the inaugural ceremony of Krishi Sammelan evam Kisan Mela, held recently.
The award-winning team was led by Tarun Kapoor, research scholar, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, and also consisted Shivani Upadhyay, PhD scholar, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics; Lakshay Sharma, research scholar, Department of Soil and Water Engineering; and Lakshya Kamboj, MSc student, Department of Agronomy.
They were honoured with medals, certificates and cash prizes. The inaugural ceremony was presided also attended by Javid Daar, Minister of Agriculture, J&K; Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary (CS); Shailendra Kumar, Additional CS and Secretary, Agriculture Department; Padma Shri AK Singh; and BN Tripathi, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST.
AgriThon 2.0 provided a platform for young innovators to showcase path-breaking ideas in agriculture, science and entrepreneurship. The multi-tiered competition, which commenced in October 2025 and culminated in February 2026, saw participation from nearly 150 teams representing various states.
Representing PAU, team “Punjab KrishX” impressed the jury with their concept: “Wheat 2.0: Sustainable Biofortification for Smart Nutritional Management”.
The project focused on rapid generation advancement in cereal research and genetic bio-fortification, offering an integrated and sustainable approach for enhancing nutritional security and ensuring agronomic viability. The concept demonstrated a blend of cutting-edge genetics, crop improvement strategies and practical field-level application. The idea was developed under the guidance of Achla Sharma, principal wheat breeder, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics.
Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, lauded the students for exemplifying scientific innovation aligned with national priorities.
