Global leaders pledge to scale agriculture innovations

New Delhi: To mark the United Nations Day for South–South Cooperation 2025, ICRISAT convened a high-level webinar on “Scalable Solutions for Crop Improvement and Production Technologies for the Global South” on 12 September 2025.

The event was held under the aegis of the ICRISAT Center of Excellence for South–South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA).

The inaugural session, chaired by Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT, set the stage for collaboration and knowledge exchange. Welcoming over 1,000 participants and global leaders, Dr. Pathak underscored the Global South’s central role in scaling agricultural innovations, remarking that “It’s not just the scientific output but how we share and inspire each other.”

Special messages from international leaders reinforced the urgency of collective action. Dr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General of FAO, congratulated ICRISAT and emphasized, “No region, no country, no community, and no farmer should be left behind. The innovations of the Global South are powerful, and our collective responsibility is to scale them further, faster, and more equitably.”

Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director of CGIAR, highlighted the importance of partnership: “South–South collaboration is central to our work. Together with our partners, CGIAR is co-developing scalable technologies and putting them in the hands of those who need them most.”

Representing India’s commitment, Dr. M.L. Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of ICAR, stressed that reinventing the wheel is unnecessary when proven solutions can be adapted and scaled through South–South cooperation. Professor Sachin Kumar Sharma, Director General of RIS, added, “The Global South doesn’t wait for solutions; it creates them. The challenge is to build linkages that allow innovation to travel swiftly and effectively.”

Adding to these perspectives, CGIAR center leaders shared insights on the transformative role of the Global South. Dr. Aly Abousabaa (ICARDA) emphasized the relevance of homegrown solutions; Dr. Yvonne Pinto (IRRI) highlighted collaborative innovation for food and nutrition security; and Dr. Bram Govaerts (CIMMYT) called for “Food Sovereignty 2.0” to address global challenges with generosity and cross-border collaboration.

The technical session brought together senior leaders from CGIAR and national agricultural research systems (NARS), including Dr. Devendra Kumar Yadava (ICAR), Dr. Hugo Campos (CIP), Dr. Becerra Lopez-Lavalle (ICARDA), Dr. Sankalp Bhosale (IRRI), and Dr. Yashpal S. Saharawat (IFDC). They showcased scalable research outcomes in crop improvement, breeding innovations, resilience, and sustainable production technologies.

Dr. Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General – Research & Innovations at ICRISAT, presented ICRISAT’s contributions through ISSCA, such as heat-tolerant pigeonpea, the Dryland Academy, and resilient farming systems. He also moderated an interactive Q&A that generated lively discussions on accelerating impact through regional collaboration. The session concluded with a vote of thanks from Mr. Sanjay Agarwal, Assistant Director General, ICRISAT, who reaffirmed ISSCA’s mission as a hub for knowledge-sharing, co-developing innovations, and scaling proven solutions. With more than 90 scalable innovations already featured on the platform, participants were urged to contribute further solutions to strengthen agricultural cooperation.

Collectively, the voices of global leaders framed ISSCA not merely as a platform but as a movement—built on collaboration, trust, and shared innovation—to shape resilient and equitable food systems across the Global South.