Faculty of Agriculture Strengthens Research through New Grant Awards
Staff of the Faculty of Agriculture, UOJ have received funding from the National Research Council (NRC) Investigator-Driven Grant and the Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (SLCARP) grant. Congratulations to the staff members of the Faculty of Agriculture, on receiving prestigious research grants. This achievement highlights your commitment to academic excellence and innovation.
Dr. (Mrs). Subajiny Sivakanthan, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jaffna, has received a National Research Council (NRC) Investigator-Driven Grant 2024 valued at Rs. 2.967 million for a three-year research project titled “Development of Bioactive-Enriched Oleogel as an Alternative for Trans Fat Containing Margarines and Shortenings.” The project is conducted in collaboration with Prof. Terrence Madujith from the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, who serves as the co-investigator.
The researcher said this research addresses the growing health concerns in Sri Lanka related to the consumption of trans and saturated fats, which are major contributors to cardiovascular diseases. The study focuses on developing oleogels; structured oil systems made from bioactive-enriched, locally sourced oils like sesame oil that can mimic the functionality of solid fats while offering significant health benefits. This project aims to strengthen local agriculture, support public health, and encourage and promote environmentally sustainable fat production methods to build a healthier, self-reliant, and more sustainable food system in Sri Lanka.
Dr. (Mrs). Suvanthini Terensan from the Department of Agricultural Biology also received an NRC grant with a total of Rs. 2.991 million, targeting the genomic and pathogenic mechanisms that determine blast susceptibility. The project, titled “Selection of Attakkari Rice for Enhanced Rice Blast Resistance through Pathotype Identification and Complete Genome Sequencing”, goes beyond conventional fieldwork. This work is collaborated with the Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IBMBB), University of Colombo, and the team members are Prof. Jagathpriya Weerasena, IBMBB, University of Colombo, and Prof. K. Gajapathy from the Department of Zoology along with Mr. Antonyrajah Ponnegipprenthiraraja from RRS Paranthan.
According to the researcher, this grant targets the molecular toolkit needed to future-proof local rice varieties like Attakkari against one of the most damaging fungal threats in global agriculture instead of focusing on generalized disease resistance or yield performance. This research is not only expected to yield genomic data for Attakkari but also contribute to Sri Lanka’s broader strategy of integrating modern biotechnology with traditional breeding to ensure long-term food security.
Dr. Mrs. Suvanthini Terensan has also secured another grant from the SLCARP under the grant worth Rs. 3.648 million. The research project is titled “Integrating Genomic and Field Approaches for Resistance Analysis of Attakkari Rice Cultivars Against Major Pests and Diseases in Northern Sri Lanka”. The research, conducted jointly at the Rice Research Station (RRS) Paranthan and the Rice Research and Development Institute (RRDI) Bathalagoda, focuses on identifying pest and disease resistance under natural conditions. The principal investigator highlighted that whole genome sequencing is applied to distinguish farmer-selected variants of Attakkari and uncover the genomic basis for resilience in addition to assessing yield traits and agro-morphological performance.
