CAS-AFS Overview

The fast-changing demography, climate change and international trade policies are impacting the economies of the countries all over the globe. In this scenario, agriculture seems to be more important than what might have appeared as a source of food security. In Pakistan’s economic systems, it is the only sector, which provides food for entire population and have the potential to provide employment opportunities to the growing number of unemployed youth. University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 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. USAID’s initiative to establish a U.S.- Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security (USPCAS - AFS) at UAF will greatly support Pakistan’s economic development by strengthening the UAF in crucially important areas. It aims to establish the governance structures, improve curriculum, teaching practices, upgradation of graduation programs and research facilities to meet client (industry, civil society, and government) needs. This initiative will particularly benefit the talented but financially weak and culturally taciturn students to access higher education in agriculture and food security. The USPCAS-AFS will serve as a focal point for collaborative research and training among all nodes of agricultural sciences related to food security. It will build a cohesive scientific community and provide a suitable platform to enable cutting edge agricultural research to address current problems being faced by the society at large.

Historical Milestones

In 2011, USAID commissioned a feasibility study to identify institutions to host three centers for focused research in food security, water and energy. The study identified four institutions namely, UAF, MUET, NUST and PUET to establish Center for Advanced Studies (CAS) in Food Security at UAF, CAS-Water at MUET, and CAS-Energy at NUST + PUET.
In April 2012, HEC signed an MoU with USAID to establish 4 Centers for Advanced Studies as described above.
Upon direction from the then Executive Director HEC, UAF Syndicate approved the establishment of Center for Advanced Studies for Agriculture and Food Security (CAS-AFS) at UAF.
On December 2014, USAID signed a 5 years Cooperative Agreement for CAS-AFS as a tri-partite partnership between USAID, HEC and UAF.
The Syndicate held on 29-12-14 approved the Cooperative Agreement along with all its provisions and conditions (Key personnel, salaries, durations).
Center started functioning by hiring faculty and staff through a competitive selection process as per the approved HR statues. The staff was trained through USAID commissioned professional programs at LUMS.
On October 21, 2017, USAID walked out of partnership by terminating funds effective 21-10-2017 due to reprioritization of USAID internal budgeting.
HEC immediately issued a formal statement to sustain CAS, made serious negotiation on salaries and released 10 million rupees for salaries.
On the sidelines, Punjab Government also played a key role in CAS sustainability through a supplementary grant of 141 million rupees to continue research projects of CAS.
D-8 Organization approved CAS-AFS as a D-8 designated Research Center in January 2019.
To revive CAS-AFS further, Governor Punjab/Chancellor inked a fresh Agreement of Cooperation between the University of California at Davis and UAF on 01-06-2021.

Announcements

Latest Events at CAS-AFS

Check out our latest blog posts, articles, client success stories and essential announcement

International Hands-on Training on CRISPR/Cas-mediated GENOME EDITING

06-11 May 2024 at CAS-AFS, UAF.

3rd Pakistan Seed Congress

April 18-20, 2024 at CAS-AFS Auditorium, UAF.

A Career in Science at the Cutting Edge: Conquering Mt. Everest Deciphering the 17GB Whear Genome

18 FEB 2024 at CAS-AFS Auditorium

Peri-Urban Agriculture Land Use Change and Food Security

26-30 Jan at CAS-AFS

UAF-ADB Joint Workshop on Promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture Research in Pakistan

Wednesday 28 Feb 2024 at CAS-AFS Auditorium, UAF.

International Seminor on Molecular and Agro-Ecological Interventaions for Sustainable Peri-Urben Agriculture.

1-2 Feb at CAS-AFS, UAF.

Upcoming Events

Workshop at CAS-AFS Auditorium on 7th AGRICULTURE CENSUS EMPLOYING INTEGRATED DIGITAL COUNT APPROACH
JUNE 05, 2024 Download Event Detail Notification

Message from
the Vice Chancellor

University of Agriculture, Faisalabad has a long and proud tradition as a distinguished education provider. It is from this strong foundation and experience in learning and teaching that we have a strength for reshaping the future of Agriculture. The University of Agriculture, Faisalabad not only focuses on investing in student’s experience but also on developing and expanding our range of academic programs, ensuring the high quality of our curriculum and its delivery with the skills for life and work in a global economy. The U.S. - Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security is designed to support Pakistan’s economic development by strengthening the relevance and responsiveness of university products, including applied and research policies and skilled graduates, to meet the needs of the public and private sector. I am gratified to see that upon its formal launch; the project is now essentially proceeding to its execution and meeting its objectives of the innovative ideas and outcomes in the areas of research and curriculum reforms. The program objective is also committed to support in the area of financial assistance.

I prospect that this will be a source of knowledge sharing to the socio-economic development of Pakistan, with the help of its Scholar’s exchange program. The program will work with its American Partner, University of California, Davis to share an extended outlook of innovative research ideas and exchange of best academic practices among young faculty and students. In the 21st century, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad will push across the frontiers of knowledge to create, in service to the public, unique interdisciplinary programs of teaching, research, and outreach essential for agricultural and rural development. I anticipate that this partnership will float its strong ways and will end up as a substantial outcome for a prosperous agriculture and leading to food security in Pakistan. While the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad will continue to enrich its capacity to achieve higher milestones success in future.

Message from
the Director CAS-AFS

The Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security at the University of Agriculture-Faisalabad was jointly designed and established by HEC and USAID. The initiative aimed to build the capacity of UAF to find innovative solutions to national and global challenges related to food and nutritional security. The Centre’s new building houses state-of-the art research and teaching laboratories, fully equipped conference/lecture theatre, advanced computers and electronic labs alongwith a dedicated library. In addition to conducting modern teaching and research, we are also convening policy dialogues, conferences, and training workshops for stakeholder consultation and broad dissemination of knowledge and technologies. The building has installed modern equipment (costing >$2 million) to support campus wide research in areas of agriculture and food security. Twelve fully equipped specialized/commodity labs supervised by more than 20 faculty members from different departments of UAF have been established.

Besides supporting academic programs and producing dozens of quality research publications from each lab, the CAS faculty is committed to develop new technologies and services to improve farm productivity and livelihood.