A workshop titled “Use of Innovative Automated Technology for Rapid Breeding and Year-Round Sustainable Crop Production through Controlled Environment Agricultural Research” was held at Gazipur Agricultural University (GAKRUBI) on Thursday morning. The event marked the formal launch of an initiative aimed at integrating advanced automation technologies with controlled-environment agriculture to accelerate crop breeding cycles and ensure sustainable production throughout the year. The workshop was organized under the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project and took place at the university’s old auditorium.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. GKM Mostafizur Rahman attended as chief guest, with Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. M. Moynul Haque and Treasurer Professor Dr. Md. Safiul Islam Afrad as special guests. Representatives from major agricultural research institutions and seed companies, along with university faculty, researchers, and students, participated. The keynote presentation by Dr. Mohammad Sharif Raihan outlined the project’s objectives, activities, and future plans.

An open discussion session followed, focusing on the project’s potential, challenges, and ways to enhance GAKRUBI’s research impact nationally and internationally. The workshop concluded with a collective commitment to collaboration and innovation in agricultural research.