Press Note
Dr. M.S. Aulakh appointed Expert Member of Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS) by FAO of UNO
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations Organization (UNO) has appointed Dr. Milkha Singh Aulakh, an Alumnus of PAU and presently serving as Founder Vice Chancellor of MSKJ University of Agriculture & Technology, Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India, as an Expert Member of ITPS (Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils) for providing scientific guidance and inputs. He is the only scientist representing South Asia including on this Global Panel. FAO supports worldwide research and management of agriculture and food by providing funds for (a) Multi-country Coordinated Research Projects, (b) inviting Scientists of International Standing as Consultants/Experts for the formulation of new policies and strategies, and (c) providing directions and projections for future.
FAO has initiated 'Global Soil Partnership (GSP)' programme and constituted a worldwide ITPS in which few eminent Scientists with International Standings have been appointed as members. Dr. Aulakh is the only Scientist from South Asia, who received this position based on his academic achievements and outstanding contributions in Soil Science, integrated crop nutrient management, food security and climate change adaption and mitigation. He occupies a very towering status among the leading national and international professionals in view of traversing many laudable milestones during his 39-year long career dedicated to agricultural education, research and administration. Earlier he has been (a) the Chief Scientific Investigator of FAO-IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) for Coordinated Research Project on integrated Soil, Water and Nutrient Management for Conservation Agriculture, in India, (b) Consultant/Expert to design and formulate international research project on Crop Improvement, Water, Soil and Fertilizer Management, and (c) Member of a worldwide Scientific Committee for holding an International Symposium on Managing Soils for Food Security and Climate Change Adaption and Mitigation.
Dr. Aulakh received M.Sc. from Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana, and Ph.D. from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada as Canadian Commonwealth Scholar. He was a Postdoctoral Fulbright Scholar at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, USA; Visiting Scientist with USDA Agricultural Research Service; Project Scientist at International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines; and Collaborating Scientist at Frounhofer Institute for Atmospheric Environmental Research and University of Freiburg in Germany. He joined Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in 1974, served at various faculty positions and rose to the positions of Additional Director of Research and Dean, College of Agriculture. In 2011, he was appointed Founder Vice Chancellor of MSKJ University of Agriculture & Technology, Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India.
First meeting of Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS) held at FAO Headquarter, Rome from 22-26, July 2013
Dr. Aulakh is a highly decorated educationist with several coveted awards, honours and recognitions worldwide. Upon invitation from prestigious organizations including FAO, IAEA, IRRI, IUSS, USDA-ARS, SCOPE, IPCC, he has Chaired and Co-chaired scientific sessions and delivered more than 120 lectures in 25 countries in Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and North America. He has been the Vice President of Indian Society of Soil Science, and is now Chairperson of Commission on "Soil and Environment" of International Union of Soil Science. He has been a member of Section Committee on Natural Resource Management of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, International Scientific Committee for 'International Symposium on Managing Soils for Food Security and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation', organized by FAO & IAEA, Vienna, Austria, and International Scientific Committee for 20th World Congress of Soil Science, Seoul, South Korea (2014). He is Consultant of International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria to design and formulate international research projects on Crop Improvement, Water, Soil and Fertilizer Management.
Upon invitation from FAO, Prof. Aulakh participated in the first meeting of ITPS held at FAO Headquarter, Rome from 22-26 July 2013 where he was selected as Chairperson of "World Soil Charter Committee". World Soil Charter, an important document followed by all UNO member countries, was prepared by FAO in 1982. Now it will be replaced by a new document under his guidance. This rarest achievement of Dr. Aulakh is a great honour for the country and for Punjab and Uttar Pradesh states and for PAU.
