Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR–IARI, New Delhi, and Dr. C. Viswanathan, Joint Director (Research), ICAR–IARI, visited ICAR–NIASM, Baramati, on 21 August 2026 to review the progress of the project “Genome Editing for Improvement of Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Soybean through Targeted Knockout of Negative Regulators,” being implemented at ICAR–NIASM. Dr. K. Sammi Reddy, Director, ICAR–NIASM, welcomed the dignitaries. Dr. A. K. Singh, PI of the project, presented the progress achieved so far. During the review, Dr. Rao appreciated the progress made and emphasized the need to accelerate the work further.

Following the project review, Dr. Rao and Dr. Viswanathan interacted with the UG and PG students of the IARI–NIASM, Baramati Hub. In his welcome address, Dr. K. Sammi Reddy highlighted the efforts of ICAR–NIASM in providing the students with necessary facilities, comfortable accommodation, and an enabling environment for teaching and learning. He also apprised the delegation of the progress made in education as well as the challenges being faced in its implementation. Dr. Rao encouraged the students to pursue their studies with dedication and seriousness to advance their careers. He also appreciated the efforts of ICAR–NIASM in strengthening UG and PG education at the IARI–NIASM, Baramati Hub.

An interaction meeting with the scientists of ICAR–NIASM was also held during the forenoon session. Dr. K. Sammi Reddy briefly highlighted the major achievements of the Institute since its inception. Dr. Viswanathan appreciated the performance of the Institute and emphasized the need for multidisciplinary research to develop workable solutions to the adverse effects of multiple abiotic stresses on crop productivity. Addressing the scientists, Dr. Rao appreciated the outstanding achievements of ICAR–NIASM and emphasized that, as several institutes are engaged in research on individual abiotic stresses, NIASM should focus more strongly on multidisciplinary research addressing multiple abiotic stresses, occurring concurrently or sequentially, which pose a major threat to crop productivity and national food and nutritional security. He further emphasized the need for greater synergy and collaboration between IARI and NIASM to strengthen education and research in the years ahead.

In the afternoon, Dr. Srinivasa Rao and Dr. C. Viswanathan visited the laboratories and other research infrastructure of ICAR–NIASM. They appreciated the state-of-the-art facilities established at the Institute for undertaking advanced research on abiotic stress management.