As part of the launch, ICRISAT signed a strategic MoU with DAKSHIN, a Government of India initiative dedicated to bolstering South-South cooperation via capacity building and development collaborations

In a significant move to transform agricultural collaboration among developing nations, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in collaboration with the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), has launched the ICRISAT Centre of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA).

The Centre was officially inaugurated at the Conference on Global South and Triangular Cooperation held in New Delhi. It is designed to facilitate knowledge sharing, promote scalable agricultural innovations, and strengthen alliances among countries facing similar agricultural and climate-related challenges.

The launch event also featured the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding between ICRISAT and DAKSHIN, a Government of India initiative focused on enhancing development partnerships and capacity building across the Global South.

“This marks a pivotal step toward structured, science-based, and inclusive agricultural development,” said Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT. “ISSCA embodies our dedication to equipping nations of the Global South with the knowledge, tools, and collaborative networks needed for sustainable agricultural transformation.”

At the heart of ISSCA is a digital platform designed to serve as a dynamic repository of validated agricultural innovations. This portal supports peer learning, the deployment of affordable technologies, and the exchange of policy models tailored for dryland and resource-limited regions.

Dr. Sachin Chaturvedi, Director General of RIS, emphasized the platform’s role in knowledge democratization: “Through ISSCA, we aim to make agricultural knowledge more accessible and convert field-level experience into sustainable policy frameworks. The collaboration between ICRISAT and DAKSHIN will be instrumental in advancing climate-smart agriculture in developing nations.”

Echoing this vision, Dr. Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of ICAR, underscored ISSCA’s potential to amplify science-driven solutions for global food security. “ICAR’s engagement with ISSCA reflects our shared resolve to bring India’s agricultural expertise to a global audience,” he noted.

The Centre builds on ICRISAT’s 50-year legacy of agricultural innovation across Asia and Africa, including landmark achievements such as the development of the world’s first commercial pigeonpea hybrid and Africa’s first biofortified pearl millet.

ISSCA is supported by a strong coalition of partners, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, ICAR, IRRI, ICARDA, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Going forward, it will continue to broaden its impact by fostering collaboration among governments, research institutions, development organizations, and private sector stakeholders across the Global South.