Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) and MSU AgBioResearch is collaborating with Somaiya Vidyavihar for Global Alliance on Sustainable Development. This alliance aims to contribute towards achieving sustainable human development and work on the Carbon-Energy-Food-Water nexus in an interdisciplinary global collaborative fashion. Research and Projects will be executed with faculty and students from Under Graduate & Post Graduate programmes of both partner institutions. Potential collaboration opportunities include soil health, probiotics and microbial solutions, eco-friendly packaging from agricultural waste, big data and precision agriculture, healthy food choices, bio-energy and renewable energy.

“It was an honour to meet with staff from Somaiya Vidyavihar and learn more about how we can work together,” said Doug Buhler, Director of MSU
AgBioResearch, during his visit to the institute along with his faculty recently. He further added “Bringing our world-renowned education, research and outreach programs together with the expertise at Somaiya Vidyavihar, we can take on some of the foremost global challenges”. A team of Somaiya Vidyavihar visited MSU where they signed a letter of intent for a long term commitment to this Global Alliance. Samir Somaiya, Vice-Chancellor, Somaiya Vidyavihar University said ‘As our world grows increasingly smaller, our problems and solutions to them need to be addressed together. It is my hope and belief that this partnership between Michigan State University and Somaiya Vidyavihar will bring a fresh perspective and approach to attempt to solve many problems that the world faces today.’

The inter & multidisciplinary projects  will encourage and enable capacity building & development of skill sets of our faculty and students, opportunity
to be part of mega-projects funded by global funding agencies & foundations and enable research projects with on-ground applications. Additionally our students and faculty will benefit from global exposure through the exchange programs, and inculcate research vigor.

Michigan State University engages in innovative, multidisciplinary research that combines scientific expertise with practical experience to generate advancements in food, health and the environment that will contribute to economic prosperity, sustainability and quality of life in the world.

About Somaiya Vidyavihar
Padmabhushan Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya founded Somaiya Vidyavihar, an education trust in 1959, to provide quality holistic education. It was founded on the belief that, education is an important pillar of nation building with the power to change lives, and education must innovate to encourage holistic development of youth. It is known as much for its Science, Technology, Engineering, Management, Social Sciences and Commerce programs, as for its programs for academic studies in various faiths and cultures of India.

Somaiya Vidyavihar fosters a start-up ecosystem that encourages multi-disciplinary collaboration, accelerates innovation, and cultivates the next generation of start-up leaders.

Somaiya Vidyavihar encompasses 34 institutions, with more than 39,000 students and 1,500 faculty. It’s main campus is in Mumbai, but Somaiya Vidyavihar also operates six schools in rural India i.e. in Dahanu, Sakarwadi, Laxmiwadi, Kopargaon, Sameerwadi, Kutch, Bagalkot and Bhopal.