Hands-on Training on
"Genome Editing Technologies in Crops"
14 - 23 October 2024
The ten-day Hands-on Training Program on “Genome Editing Technologies in Crops” was inaugurated with great enthusiasm at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), Hyderabad, from 14 October to 23 October 2024. This hands-on training program aims to provide participants with the skills, knowledge, and resources to implement genome editing technologies in their respective research areas, thereby contributing to the development of crops with enhanced traits for improved agricultural outcomes. The training program has brought together participants from ICAR, state agricultural universities, CSIR, and Indo-US institutions, working on rice, wheat, cucurbits, arid crops, tomatoes, microbes, and poultry.
Dr R M Kumar, officiating Director, ICAR-IIRR presented the opening remarks of the training program. Dr. R.M. Sundaram, Director of ICAR-IIRR and the Course Director for the program emphasized the transformative potential of genome editing in crops, especially in accelerating product development and crop improvement. He also highlighted the essential support from ICAR for organizing the Human Resource Development (HRD) program and acknowledged ongoing projects under ICAR’s auspices. Dr. Sundaram shared success stories, such as the development of the salinity-tolerant rice MTU 1010, developed by IARI, and the yield-improved Samba Mahsuri rice developed by ICAR-IIRR. Dr. Satendra K. Mangrauthia, Course Director, welcomed the participants and provided an overview of the program’s content. He emphasized the hands-on nature of the training, designed to equip participants with practical skills in genome editing technologies. Dr. C.N. Neeraja, Head Biotechnology, ICAR-IIRR provided an in-depth briefing on Institutional Biosafety Committee protocols, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) guidelines, and the importance of deregulating genome-edited products to accelerate commercialization and adoption. Dr. P. Muthu Raman, encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions and absorb the knowledge imparted during the sessions, which are carefully designed for maximum applicability in their respective fields.
The Chief Guest, Dr. T.R. Sharma, Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR, highlighted the critical role genome editing plays in addressing contemporary agricultural challenges. He commended ICAR-IIRR’s efforts in organizing the program and congratulated the team on their successful development of the genome-edited Samba Mahsuri rice with high yield potential. Dr. Sharma also provided insights into the criteria for selecting genes and traits for genome editing, motivating participants to pursue cutting-edge research in this domain.
The Guest of Honor, Dr. D.K. Yadava, Assistant Director General (Seed), ICAR, addressed on the judicious use and regulatory frameworks governing genome-edited crops. He stressed the importance of developing indigenous genome-editing technologies to enhance Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and facilitate the commercialization of these innovations. He praised the training program’s technical design and encouraged participants to engage in discussions with faculty and resource persons to maximize the impact of the program in their home institutions.
The Guest of Honor, Dr. S.K. Pradhan, Assistant Director General (FFC), ICAR, lauded the diverse participation from various disciplines in the training programs. He emphasized the far-reaching potential of Genome Editing (GeD) technologies in enhancing crop traits and encouraged further collaboration and hands-on learning. He also stressed the importance of continuous work in the field of genome editing and encouraged the participants to strengthen their ties with ICAR-IIRR for future advancements.
Throughout the inaugural session, participants raised several pertinent points and shared their expectations from the program. The dignitaries expressed their best wishes for the success of the training and underscored the importance of continuing education in genome editing technologies to address agricultural challenges. The inaugural session concluded with a formal vote of thanks by Dr Kalyani M Barbadikar.
