Professor Maurice Moloney Director & Chief Executive Rothamsted Research UK addresses the deans, directors of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad

In a bid to feed the growing human population, scientists need to bring innovative ideas enhancing the productivity and limiting the cost of production, said Professor Maurice Moloney Director & Chief Executive Rothamsted Research UK while addressing the deans, directors of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad at New Syndicate Hall on Wednesday morning. Dr. Maurice Moloney who introduced transgenic oil seed plants using canola as the model, has 300 patents on his credit, was visiting UAF aiming at looking new avenues of mutual collaboration with the Pakistani institutions. He told that his office is re-establishing an international relationship to jointly work for humanity as in 2050 the population would be touching 9 billion adding that making nutritional food accessible, affordable and available for the growing people was a big challenge for the scientists. Briefing the gathering about his organization, Dr. Maurice told that Rothamsted was the oldest and largest agricultural research centre in Europe, with a mandate for food security, agricultural sustainability and adaptation of agriculture to the consequences of both climate change and depletion of fossil fuels. He described the prevailing decade to agriculture and said that this very sector has the potential to provide a balanced and nutritional food to the masses. He was of the view that climate change was another challenge confronting the humanity with its multifarious effects. He told that cost of energy is another issue to be dealt with and scientists need to come up with workable solutions of the problem. Dr. Maurice anticipated that Europe will also suffer from issues relating to food security in the years to come. He underscored the need of close and constructive relationship based on sharing of information and resources between developed and developing countries to meet the emerging challenges of food security and climate change. Earlier, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq, acting Vice Chancellor while delivering his welcome address, said that UAF is undertaking about 214 research projects worth 1621 million rupees and around half of them were earned competitively. He told that in Pakistan contrast with United States and India, unfortunately three streams of teaching, research and extension were operating in a parallel fashion and not making strong relationship with each other, which hamper the whole agriculture sector. He expressed his hope that the visit of Dr. Maurice will bring tangible fruits of mutual cooperation with new R&D activities. Later the visiting scientist made visits to Centre for Biotechnology and Biochemistry (CABB). Principal Officer Public Relations & Publication Department Prof. Dr. Muhammad Jalal Arif conducted the visit.