Seeds of Innovation: GEFSES Symposium Bridges Continents Through Genome Editing

In March 2025, the GEFSES program hosted its annual international symposium, "Harnessing Genome Editing for Resilient Agriculture," in Ludhiana, India. The event was held in collaboration with Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU).

GEFSES—part of the NSERC-funded Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program at McGill University—brings together researchers from five Canadian universities (University of Calgary, University of Manitoba, University of Saskatchewan, Queen’s University, and McGill) and two Indian institutions (PAU and GADVASU) to advance genome editing in agriculture.

The five-day symposium welcomed distinguished guests, renowned scientists, and students from diverse research backgrounds. It opened with a tour of PAU’s research facilities and a networking dinner. The inaugural session featured Professor Emeritus Gurdev Singh Khush, a globally celebrated rice breeder and 1996 World Food Prize laureate, as Guest of Honour. Distinguished Professor Emeritus Dr. Bikram Singh Gill, a PAU alumnus, delivered a plenary address titled "Chromosome and Genome Manipulation Since Mendel."

The symposium showcased cutting-edge research in gene editing across plant and animal systems. Highlights included:

• Dr. Sergio Navarro Serna (Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Spain), who explored the power of CRISPR/Cas9 in medicine and agriculture using pig models.
• Dr. Wricha Tyagi (ICRISAT, India), who presented advancements and future directions in gene editing for semi-arid crops.
• Dr. Sharon Regan (Queen’s University), who highlighted industry-academia collaboration in understanding cold tolerance and disease resistance in hazelnuts—an essential crop for FERRERO products.
• Dr. Baljit Singh (VP Research, University of Saskatchewan), who shared career insights and encouraged trainees to pursue ambitious goals.

Policy and regulatory frameworks were also in focus. Mr. Ian Affleck (CropLife Canada) outlined Canada’s evolving policy landscape for gene-edited crops, while Dr. K.C. Bansal, former Director of India’s National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, provided an overview of India’s regulatory environment.

McGill was well represented, with five participating professors:

• Dr. Matthias Klein delivered a virtual talk on the role of artificial intelligence in research.
• Drs. Jean-Benoit Charron, Jaswinder Singh, Raj Duggavathi, and Saji George shared highlights from their respective labs.

GEFSES trainees played an active role throughout the symposium. They presented their research, participated in hands-on gene editing workshops in plant and animal models, attended communication skills training, and competed in a Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Beyond the science, participants enjoyed a taste of Punjabi culture, including a vibrant performance of Bhangra, a traditional folk dance.

“It was a wonderful experience,” said Mehtab Singh, a Ph.D. student in Professor Singh’s lab at McGill and a GEFSES/PAU alumnus, who appreciated the unique opportunity to meet eminent scientists like Dr. G.S. Khush, Dr. Bikram Singh, and Dr. Dhugga.

“The symposium created an opportunity for me to see the research infrastructure and quality of research undertaken at PAU firsthand,” said Professor Jean-Benoit Charron, Associate Dean of Graduate Education at McGill.

“McGill students can benefit from the vast breeding programs at PAU, getting hands-on, technical training.”