India, Australia sign pact to boost horticulture research

India and Australia have signed a pact to boost horticultural research in a bid to develop and deploy modern tools of plant biotechnology to improve crop productivity with a funding commitment of up to Australian $ 6 million over a period of three years.

• The pact was signed between the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a public sector enterprise, and Horticulture Innovation Australia (Hort Innovation) for launching a joint funding call to support research and development (R&D) organisations and other eligible entities to undertake novel and cutting-edge strategic translational research in horticulture at affordable costs.
• Considering the gap between demand and supply for crops, it is of paramount importance to stimulate an enabling environment for R&D in both the regions.
• Through the signing of this memorandum of understanding, we along with Hort Innovation aim to create a supportive ‘innovation ecosystem’ for researchers to undertake high-level research and promote horticulture techniques.