ICAR-IARI, New Delhi holds Industry Meet to Strengthens PPP in Natural Resource Management

23 April 2026, New Delhi

ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, successfully organized ICAR-IARI Industry Meet 2026 today in New Delhi. The event, themed “Strengthening Partnerships in Natural Resource Management Sector,” brought together leading policymakers, scientists, industry representatives, startups, and students to foster collaboration for sustainable agricultural development from different sectors related to Natural Resource Management.

The meet was graced by eminent dignitaries including Dr Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayog, Dr R. B. Singh, Former Chairman, ASRB, Dr H. S. Gupta, Former Director, ICAR-IARI, and Dr Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR-IARI.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Ramesh Chand underscored the urgent need to address challenges of agriculture, and managing them through reduced cost with better efficiency and maintaining sustainability. He emphasized the importance of precision farming, data-driven decision-making, and enhanced private sector participation to bridge the gap between research innovations and field-level adoption. He also highlighted the need for policy support to improve water use efficiency and agricultural productivity.

In his welcome address, Dr Ch. Srinivasa Rao highlighted that this was the third in a series of industry meets aimed at enhancing collaboration between ICAR-IARI and industry stakeholders. He emphasized on the key focus areas including technology commercialization of different innovations, ecosystem services, public-private partnerships (PPP), and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding opportunities.

Dr. R. B. Singh stressed that Natural Resource Management (NRM) is central to climate resilience, ecological sustainability, and food security. He advocated for multidisciplinary collaboration, strengthening PPP framework, and increased engagement with startups. He highlighted the importance of balancing “People, Planet, and Profit” to ensure inclusive and sustainable agricultural growth.

Dr. H. S. Gupta reflected on the historical role of NRM in India’s agricultural transformation, particularly during the Green Revolution, and cautioned against the overuse of natural resources. He emphasized on the need to restore soil health, improve nutrient-use efficiency, and adopt advanced technologies such as nano-fertilizers and precision agriculture to ensure long-term sustainability. A key highlight of the event was the exchange of three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Agreements for licensing, contractual research, and CSR funding, reinforcing the commitment to collaborative innovation.

The programme also included panel discussions on Opportunities in Natural Resource Management with the presentations by Dr P. S. Brahmanand, PD, WTC and other industry partners who showcased their strengths and emerging areas for collaboration in water management, soil health, climate-resilient agriculture, and digital farming technologies.

The programme concluded with poster presentations and interactive sessions, where ICAR-IARI postgraduate and Ph.D. students showcased their research and engaged with industry representatives, fostering knowledge exchange and future collaborations.

The event witnessed participation from over 75 industries alongwith about 50 agri-startups (online), and also featured the presentations by over 170 postgraduate and PhD students.

(Source: ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi)