Stakeholders expressed hope that the lab will play a pivotal role in combating climate change impacts by improving soil health and establishing sustainable agricultural systems. It is expected to make significant contributions to producing safe and nutritious food.

During the inauguration, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Latif thanked the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and Wave Foundation, emphasising, “Nothing can survive without the environment. Allah created the environment before humanity. We must all commit to leaving an even better environment for future generations than what we inherited.” He added that research is indispensable for keeping pace with ongoing changes in the agricultural sector, and this lab will open new horizons in agricultural research.

Established with financial support from PKSF and under the Rural Micro-Enterprise Transformation Project by Wave Foundation, the lab is housed in SAU’s Agricultural Botany Department. It is overseen by Professor Dr. Mohammad Mahbub Islam and Professor Dr. A. K. M. Ruhul Amin.

Presided over by Wave Foundation Executive Director Mahsin Ali, Professor Dr. Md. Mahbub Islam announced that the lab is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments, including a microbial balance, plant and soil digestion system, flame photometer, plant oven, and conductivity meter. These tools will enable analysis of nutrient and harmful element levels in soil and plants, assessment of plant sensitivity in adverse environments, and application of smart agriculture and nanotechnology to enhance soil health, crop productivity, and nutritional quality. MS and PhD students are already utilising the lab for their research. This marks Bangladesh’s first Agro Ecophysiology Laboratory.