The idea of establishing an institution for regional cooperation was an offshoot of the First Asian Agricultural College and University Seminar held in September 1970 at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiara, India. The Follow-up Committee on the establishment of an association of agricultural colleges and universities in Asia chaired by Dr. M.C. Chakrabandhu, then Rector of Kasetsart University in Thailand, drafted the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association. Members of the Committee included Dr. K.C. Naik, then Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bangalore, India; Dr. F.A. Bernardo, then Dean of the College of Agriculture at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB); Dr. Jannes Hutasort of Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia; and Dr. Hyun Koo Pyo of Seoul National University, South Korea. Serving as consultants were Dr. Edward Nicholson of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Dr. Don Kimmel of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations; and Dr. R.W. Cummings of the North Carolina State University, USA.
Sitting- Left to Right: George Axinn, Ira L. Baldwin, J.A. Rigney, F.W. Parker, Ralf W. Cummings, M.S. Randhawa, M.C. Chakrabandhu, S. Vodjdani, Yuen-liang Ku, K.P.A. Menon, K.C. Naik.
Standing-1st Row-Left to Right: Domingo Panganiban, Hyu Koo Phyo, Thumnong Singalvanich, Mien-Num Sung, Suraphol Sanguansri, Pavin Punsri, Sjahrial B. Wahab, Fernando Bernardo, Jannes Hutasoit, Netra Bahadura, Basnyat, Harjono Samangoen, R.P. Utojo, Sukhdev Singh, Dantyagi.
Standing 2nd- Row-Left to Right: J.C. Bakshi, Edward Nicholson, Don Kimmel, Joseph Madamba, H.R. Kalia, R.D. Joshi, C.A. Lamb, N.K. Anant Rao, Rashdan bin Haji Baba, O.P. Gautam, Ervin Petersen, R.H. Pollock.
On 1 May 1972, the Asian Association of Agricultural Colleges and Universities (AAACU) was officially formed during the Second Agricultural College and University Seminar held at the Pines Hotel in Baguio City, Philippines.