LUCKNOW, July 16 -- Plant-based solutions and advances in plant hormone science can play a major role in addressing India's food, nutrition, health and energy security challenges, experts said at a national symposium that began at CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) on Wednesday. The two-day symposium on 'Hormonal Cross-talk Regulating Plant Development and Stress Responses' has been organised by CSIR-NBRI in collaboration with the department of science and technology (DST) and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). Scientists, academicians, researchers, faculty members and students from across the country are taking part to discuss recent advances in plant hormone signalling, developmental biology and stress adaptation. Speaking at the inaugural session, Trilochan Mohapatra, chairperson of the protection of plant varieties and farmers' rights authority, said ensuring food, nutrition and health security would remain national priorities as India's population continues to grow. He said the changing global geopolitical situation has also made energy security a key concern. CSIR director-general N Kalaiselvi Mohapatra said plant-based solutions can strengthen food security, biofuels and self-reliance, while gene-editing and biotechnology have advanced crop research and breeding, boosting rice and sugarcane productivity. She called farmers custodians of agro-biodiversity and stressed protecting their rights. The institute also inaugurated Van Vilaas, India's largest Bougainvillea germplasm repository with over 400 varieties, and the Aparajita conference facility. The symposium concludes on Thursday....