About ICPG

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        "Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life"(World Food Summit, 1996). India is a strong agriculture based economy--going from food deficit to food surplus economy. But, food production should increase up to 40% to take care of increasing population over the next 25 years. Food insecurity and vulnerability are major problems to cope with and may become more critical in future if concerted efforts are not made to overcome them. At the same time, the need of agri-sector today is to produce agricultural commodities efficiently and economically to a market-oriented clientele. The major agricultural out-put being crop-based, it is highly desirable to generate innovative ideas and develop capacity to apply them, along with time-tested classical methods, for crop improvement.

        As a result of the discovery of double helix, fifty years ago, and subsequent advent of recombinant DNA technology, a new discipline of Genomics has come into existence. It pervades all branches of Life Sciences and draws upon not only biological concepts but also latest innovations in physical, engineering and electronic sciences. The human genome sequencing project can exemplify the emerging discipline in terms of serving as a catalyst for conceptual advancement and understanding molecular basis of human diseases for adopting novel strategies for better health care. The area of Plant Genomics has similar value for plant science and agriculture. The genome sequences of Arabidopsis (a model plant) and rice (a model crop plant) have vitalized the scientific community world-wide with fresh hopes for discovery, innovation and application. In fact, members of the faculty at South Campus (Professor Akhilesh K. Tyagi, Professor J. P. Khurana, Professor P. Khurana) have already contributed significantly to the International Rice Genome Sequencing Project (IRGSP) as part of the Indian Initiative for Rice Genome Sequencing (IIRGS). Their activity forms a nucleation point in India for several other national/international programmes in the area of genomics. Delhi University is a premier institution for education and research. To cater to the emerging needs and provide leadership in education and research, Delhi University has already established Inter-disciplinary Centres in areas of high priority like 'Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants' and 'Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystem'. It was, therefore, discussed and strongly felt that establishing an Inter-disciplinary Centre for Plant Genomics (ICPG) at South Campus is the need of the hour. ICPG can draw upon over a decade long experience of faculty in the area of plant gene discovery and genomics as well as resources/infrastructure of IIRGS, already available at South Campus. Active participation of researchers from within the University and other institutions would be a built-in component. The proposal provides in-put on Plant Genomics in Service of Humanity, Research and Development Areas, Resources and Infrastructure, Governance (as per ordinance XV.A of Delhi University and concerned resolution in the meeting of Executive Council on 17.12.2004) and Academic Expertise. The ICGP would be able to serve as a catalyst for bringing together multiple specializations to foster frontline research and fulfill knowledge-based requirements of the society, in the area of Plant Genomics and related disciplines.

        The Inter-disciplinary Centre for Plant Genomics (ICGP) would endeavor for the following: