The Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi hosted the Seed to Startup Entrepreneurship Expo, bringing together students, researchers, policymakers, agri-startups and industry representatives to promote research-led agribusiness.
MPA Malik Iftikhar Ahmed inaugurated the event and highlighted the urgent need to transfer research-driven solutions to farming communities, noting that farmers look to universities for practical innovations. He said events such as Seed to Startup create pathways for internships and hands-on training that help students and young professionals bridge the gap between academia and the field.
The expo was attended by Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman, Vice Chancellor of PMAS-AAUR, along with the Registrar, Deans, Directors, faculty members and a large number of students. In his remarks the Vice Chancellor reiterated that quality seed and modern technologies are central to national food security, urging stronger collaboration between research institutions and industry to commercialize innovations so farmers can adopt improved varieties and practices.
Keynote speakers included Mr. Muhammad Azam Khan, Director General of the Federal Seed Certification & Registration Department, and Mr. Aamir Iqbal from Bayer Pvt. Ltd., who discussed regulatory frameworks, seed quality standards and the role of private sector partnerships in scaling new technologies. Speakers stressed that addressing climate challenges requires adoption of hybrid varieties and contemporary agronomic methods.
The Seed to Startup expo featured panel discussions, an exhibition of research and startup exhibits, awareness seminars and a poster presentation segment that showcased student research and potential commercialization pathways. Organizers said the event aimed to make seed technology and plant breeding research more accessible to farmers and to stimulate agritech entrepreneurship across the region.
