USAID Provincial Director, Punjab, Dr. Miles Toder and Maggie Schoch, Deputy Mission Director for Punjab, Pakistan visited U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security at University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) and met with UAF Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad

USAID Provincial Director, Punjab, Dr. Miles Toder and Maggie Schoch, Deputy Mission Director for Punjab, Pakistan visited U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security at University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) and met with UAF Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad, the Chief of Party Dr. Bashir Ahmad and USPCAS-AFS team. The Vice Chancellor, UAF, Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad chaired the meeting and gave a warm welcome to USAID representatives. Dr. Miles Toder is a Foreign Service officer with extensive experience working in democracy and governance area, having served in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and South and Southeast Asia. The Vice Chancellor, UAF presented a brief introduction of the University and U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security. Prof. Iqrar apprised the guests on the history of UAF and the developmental legacy carried out in bringing up the heritage to a current success case. He expressed gratitude to USAID for their continuous efforts in supporting the improvement of higher education and research culture and providing financial assistance to the students in terms of scholarships, scholars exchange program and research grants. Prof. Iqrar said, "UAF is one of the university in Pakistan which strives for the gender equality and provide resources which improves female enrollments in the undergraduate and graduate degree programs which is also one of the key objective of USPCAS-AFS". uspcasDr. Miles Toder, Provincial Director, Punjab, USAID appreciated the modern methods of education used by UAF and said that, "USAID looks forward for continuing the relationship of supporting and improving higher education in Pakistan with more technical and research assistance". Dr. Toder and Ms. Schoch also met the program chairs of thematic areas. A detailed discussion was carried out on USPCAS-AFS research areas, which includes; Agriculture Policy, Biotechnology, Climate Change, Outreach and Precision Agriculture. The focus was also made on the significance of commercialization and creating patents out of research outcomes for the actual contribution to the socio-economic development of Pakistan. The U.S.-Pakistan Centers for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security (USPCAS-AFS) aspires to ensure food security through outstanding achievements in learning, discovery, innovation and community service with a clear focus on programs of significance to agricultural and rural development. The Center will be assisted in its efforts through collaboration between the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad and the University of California, Davis as the U.S. partner University. Collaboration between the partner USPCAS Universities and the Higher Education Commission will help ensure institutionalization and sustainability of USPCAS-AFS beyond the five-year life. The center mainly focuses upon efficient governance and leadership, effective curricular reforms, high quality applied and policy research, internationally competitive multidisciplinary graduate training and technical and financial sustainability. The project is funded by USAID and is another step forward in strengthening the education and research sector in Pakistan for its Socio-economic development. The delegation visited the post-harvest lab, Food Technology Institute, Rosa Lab and Citrus Green Houses, UAF