Shimla: Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, has inaugurated a dedicated Centre on Cannabis Research to promote scientific studies, quality assessment and medicinal applications of the plant. Funded by the Himachal Pradesh govt, the centre will focus on developing scientific understanding of cannabis, its conservation and sustainable utilisation for medicinal purposes.The initiative comes amid growing interest in exploring the plant’s potential for healthcare and research. Officiating vice-chancellor professor Harminder Singh Baweja inaugurated the centre on Wednesday as part of a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening the university’s research infrastructure, promoting innovation and generating additional revenue. The university also inaugurated a common incubation centre for processing mushrooms, fruits, vegetables, spices and herbs, funded by the Union ministry of food processing industries. The facility will promote value addition, product development and entrepreneurship among students, farmers and researchers.Other facilities inaugurated included an enology laboratory, a herbal products development and sale centre, a digitised herbarium and a policy centre on public-private partnerships. The university also laid foundation stones for centres of excellence in waste-to-wealth and honeybee research, besides a Himalayan Traditional Seed Heritage Centre and a plant tissue culture facility. Baweja said the initiatives were aimed at making the university self-reliant, research-driven and globally connected.
