India to Host ICAR-CGIAR Science and Partnership Week in April 2025
India will host the ICAR-CGIAR Science and Partnership Week in April 2025, uniting global scientists to enhance agricultural collaboration.
New Delhi, October 31 (Daily Kiran) : India is set to host the ICAR-CGIAR Science and Partnership Week in April 2025, a significant event aimed at strengthening international collaboration in agricultural research and innovation. The week-long program will take place in New Delhi, bringing together researchers, farmers, governments, startups, and businesses from around the globe.
Organized jointly by the CGIAR and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the event will serve as a platform for discussing innovations that are already reaching farmers and identifying areas where further work is needed to extend benefits to more agricultural communities.
Dr. M.L. Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Director General of ICAR, highlighted that CGIAR, an international agricultural research partnership with 15 research centers operating in over 100 countries, has made significant contributions to global agricultural advancement. He noted that CGIAR’s collaboration with India, particularly through ICAR, has been pivotal in crop improvement, natural resource management, food security, and agricultural productivity.
Since the Green Revolution, partnerships with international research institutions like CIMMYT, IRRI, and ICRISAT have bolstered India’s food production capacity, transforming it from a nation reliant on imported food to a leading producer and exporter.
Dr. Jat emphasized that India aims to promote South-South cooperation and share its successful agricultural innovations with countries in the Global South, especially in Africa. He pointed out that areas such as climate-resilient agriculture, digital farming, agricultural mechanization, and sustainable practices present substantial opportunities for international collaboration.
Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director of CGIAR, remarked that the event will celebrate the achievements of this long-standing partnership while setting an agenda for agricultural cooperation for the next 50 years. She noted that India’s robust national science framework has already benefited farmers in Africa and Asia, and the upcoming event aims to further this exchange of knowledge.
Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, stated that India’s journey from a food-deficient nation to a major agricultural producer exemplifies the transformative power of science, technology, and international partnerships.
The inaugural CGIAR Science Week was held in April 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya. ICAR leads one of the world’s largest national agricultural research systems, with its scientists collaborating with CGIAR for over 50 years. Currently, ten CGIAR research centers are engaged in projects focused on crops, water, livestock, fish, nutrition, and policy in India.
