Pantnagar, Uttarakhand: Twenty students of Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT) will be leaving for France to undergo internship training in modern agricultural techniques. This unique opportunity is part of a collaborative initiative between the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty of France and GBPUAT, Pantnagar.
Under a recently signed agreement, the selected students will participate in a month-long internship training programme at various institutions in France under the DEFIAA Consortium. The internship is scheduled to be conducted from March 8, 2026, to April 3, 2026, and aims to provide hands-on professional exposure in food science, food technology, and advanced agricultural practices.
Dr. H. J. Shiva Prasad, Director of International Affairs at GBPUAT, highlighted the significance of the programme, stating that it focuses strongly on practical skill development in the domains of food technology and food science.
The selected students represent a wide range of disciplines including Agriculture, Technology, Agribusiness, Community Science, Biotechnology, Fisheries, and Veterinary Sciences. From the College of Veterinary Sciences (CVSc), the selected students are Megha Purohit, Rishabh Sarwal, Devashish Nath Mahant, Anumay Singh Bhandari, Garima Rana, and Medhavi Nainwal. Bhagyashree Upadhyay has been selected from the College of Agribusiness Management (CABM). Representing the College of Agriculture (COA) are Riti Paul, Gagan Tripathi, Surendra Dhami, Diya Yadav, Shambhavi, and Samishta Bhatt. Prena Sharma has been selected from the College of Fisheries Science (CFSc). Sidra Malik and Kanishk Dhaka are from the College of Technology (COT). The College of Community Science (CCS) is represented by Angela Ahanthem and Dipanshi Bameta, while Bharti Kunwar and Manshi Negi have been selected from the College of Basic Sciences and Humanities (CBSH).
The DEFIAA programme is expected to contribute significantly to the holistic development of students by providing international exposure and academic enrichment. Vice-Chancellor Manmohan Singh Chauhan congratulated the selected students and emphasized the importance of such international collaborations in enhancing academic excellence, practical skills, and cultural exchange between India and France.
Author
Gagan Tripathi is an agripreneur, plant scientist, and author known for his work in agritech innovation and sustainable horticulture. He is the Co-founder and CEO of Plant Orbit, a horticulture-focused startup dedicated to making healthy, scientifically managed plants accessible to urban and institutional consumers. Born in 2000, Gagan holds a master’s degree in Agriculture Extension and Communication, blending agricultural science with entrepreneurship and community outreach. He is also the author of the bestseller “Roadmap to Your Healthy Succulents”. His work focuses on sustainable plant care, green entrepreneurship, and building impact-driven agri startups in India.
