FAISALABAD: The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) has signed an Agreement of Cooperation (AoC) with the Southern Research Institute of Agriculture (SRIA), Republic of Uzbekistan, to strengthen academic, research, and scientific collaboration between the two institutions.
A key feature of the agreement is the establishment of an International Centre for Agriculture and Food Security at UAF and SRIA to address emerging challenges in agriculture and food systems.
The agreement further includes exchange of germplasm of field crops for mutual research, exchange of expertise, knowledge, and genotypes on wheat, and joint capacity-building initiatives in hybrid wheat breeding and speed breeding techniques.
The agreement was signed by the Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali, and Dr Diyor Jurayev, Director of the Southern Research Institute of Agriculture on behalf of SRIA, Republic of Uzbekistan.
UAF is a premier institution of higher education, research, and advocacy in agricultural and human sciences in Pakistan, enjoying international recognition through global ranking systems including QS, Times Higher Education, UI Green Metric World Universities, and Webometrics.
The Southern Research Institute of Agriculture (SRIA) operates under the National Centre for Knowledge and Innovation in Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The institute conducts advanced research in grain, legume, oilseed, and fodder crop breeding, seed production, agro technology, and plant protection, serving irrigated and rain-fed agricultural zones of the country.
This international partnership is expected to enhance research capacity, promote innovation, and contribute meaningfully to sustainable agriculture and food security in Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
Director External Linkages UAF, Dr Muhammad Tehseen Azhar, also attended the signing ceremony.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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