ICRISAT Commemorates UN Day for South–South Cooperation with Global Agricultural Dialogue

New Delhi, 15 September 2025 

 The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) hosted a high-level global webinar on 12 September 2025 to mark the United Nations Day for South–South Cooperation. Themed “Scalable Solutions for Crop Improvement and Production Technologies for the Global South,” the event showcased collaborative efforts to advance agricultural innovations across developing nations.

Organized under the ICRISAT Center of Excellence for South–South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA), the event brought together over 1,000 global participants, including leading policymakers, researchers, and representatives from international agricultural institutions.

A Platform for Shared Solutions

In his opening address, Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, set the tone for the discussions, emphasizing the power of shared learning and collective innovation in the Global South.

“It’s not just the scientific output but how we share and inspire each other,” Dr. Pathak said, reinforcing the need for cooperation over competition in solving global agricultural challenges.

International Leaders Applaud South–South Collaboration

Several prominent figures in global agriculture offered their support and insight:

Dr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), emphasized inclusivity in innovation:

“No region, no country, no community, and no farmer should be left behind. The innovations of the Global South are powerful, and our responsibility is to scale them more equitably.”

Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director at CGIAR, reiterated CGIAR’s commitment to South–South cooperation:
“Together with our partners, we are co-developing solutions aligned with national priorities, ensuring they reach those who need them most.”

Dr. M.L. Jat, Secretary of DARE and Director General of ICAR, highlighted India’s commitment to the cause:
“We cannot afford to reinvent the wheel. South–South platforms allow us to adapt existing solutions effectively.”

Prof. Sachin Kumar Sharma, Director General of RIS, called for agile knowledge-sharing systems:
“The Global South doesn’t wait for solutions—it creates them. We need mechanisms to spread these quickly and efficiently.”

Research Leaders Call for Food System Resilience

The event featured perspectives from leaders of major CGIAR centers:

• Dr. Aly Abousabaa (ICARDA) emphasized region-specific innovation.
• Dr. Yvonne Pinto (IRRI) stressed the role of collaborative research in ensuring food and nutrition security.
• Dr. Bram Govaerts (CIMMYT) advocated for a new model of “Food Sovereignty 2.0”, urging global solidarity in the face of climate and trade challenges.

Technical Sessions Highlight Scalable Agricultural Technologies

Senior leaders from CGIAR and national agricultural systems shared updates on innovative and adaptable technologies, including:

• Dr. Devendra Kumar Yadava (ICAR)
• Dr. Hugo Campos (CIP)
• Dr. Augusto Becerra Lopez-Lavalle (ICARDA)
• Dr. Sankalp Bhosale (IRRI)
• Dr. Yashpal S. Saharawat (IFDC)

Discussions focused on crop improvement, climate resilience, breeding strategies, and sustainable farming technologies tailored for the Global South.

ICRISAT Showcases Innovation and Leadership

Dr. Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General – Research & Innovations at ICRISAT, presented an overview of the ISSCA platform, spotlighting innovations such as heat-tolerant pigeonpea, the Dryland Academy, and climate-resilient farming systems.

Moderating the interactive session, Dr. Blade facilitated a Q&A that encouraged knowledge exchange and cross-country learning.

Call for Continued Collaboration

Concluding the session, Mr. Sanjay Agarwal, Assistant Director General at ICRISAT, extended a vote of thanks and reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to strengthening South–South Cooperation. With over 90 scalable innovations already featured on the ISSCA platform, he called on partners to contribute additional technologies to expand the global impact.

ICRISAT’s observance of the UN Day for South–South Cooperation reaffirmed the value of collective action and knowledge-sharing to drive agricultural transformation across the Global South.