The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, ICAR, has entered into partnerships with three industry organisations to support innovation and sustainable development in agriculture and allied sectors.
The Memoranda of Understanding, MoUs, were signed during the 15th Annual General Meeting and 71st Board Meeting of Agrinnovate India Limited.
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Agrinnovate India Limited, the innovation, technology commercialisation and Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, resource-mobilisation arm of ICAR, facilitated the agreements.
The industry partners are Pidilite Industries Limited, Venkateshwara Hatcheries Private Limited and Everest Instruments Private Limited.
The partnerships are designed to mobilise CSR support for public-benefit initiatives and strengthen collaboration between agricultural research institutions and industry.
The agreements cover areas including sustainable agri-food systems, climate-resilient agriculture and natural resource management.
Other areas of collaboration include livelihood enhancement and technology transfer, women and youth empowerment, agri-startups, incubation, rural entrepreneurship and digital innovation.
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The partnerships will also focus on capacity building, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, biofortification, food processing, value-chain development and farm mechanisation.
Education and knowledge partnerships, as well as the One Health approach, are also included among the priority areas covered by the agreements.
According to ICAR, the collaborations are expected to support the translation of scientific research and technologies into practical initiatives that can benefit farmers, rural communities, entrepreneurs, women and young people.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen industry engagement and provide additional resources for innovation-led agricultural development.
The occasion was attended by the Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Director General of ICAR, Dr M. L. Jat, who is also Chairman of Agrinnovate India Limited.
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Others included the Secretary of ICAR and Vice-Chairman of Agrinnovate India Limited, Shri Gyanendra Tripathi; Financial Adviser, ICAR, Shri Sandeep Sarkar; Chief Executive Officer of Agrinnovate India Limited, Dr Praveen Malik; members of the Board of Directors and senior ICAR officials.
The partnerships form part of efforts by ICAR and Agrinnovate India Limited to promote inclusive and sustainable development of agriculture and allied sectors through stronger collaboration between research institutions and industry.