India and Brazil have taken their agri-tech collaboration to the next level with the launch of Maitri 2.0, the second edition of the Brazil–India Cross-Incubation Programme in Agritech. The initiative was unveiled today by Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary (DARE) & Director General of ICAR, alongside H.E. Kenneth Nobrega, Ambassador of Brazil to India, in the presence of senior officials and leaders from premier Brazilian research and innovation institutions.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Jat highlighted the 77-year-old partnership between the two countries, calling it a cornerstone of South–South cooperation. He underscored their shared role in global platforms such as BRICS and G20 and described the recent ICAR–EMBRAPA MoU as a pivotal milestone for collaboration across the agri-food value chain. Tracing ICAR’s innovation journey, Dr. Jat noted its leap from just 74 patents in 1996 to more than 1,800 annually today, supported by a network of incubation centres and over 5,000 licensing agreements. Commercialization, he stressed, is about delivering publicly funded innovations to farmers and end-users, not merely generating revenue. He described Maitri 2.0 as a “two-way learning platform for co-creation” and reaffirmed ICAR’s commitment to building an inclusive, innovation-driven agri-food ecosystem capable of contributing to global food security.

Ambassador Nobrega hailed the programme as a strategic step that reflects the broader Brazil–India partnership, aligning closely with the vision of both nations’ leaders for cooperation in agriculture, emerging technologies, and food and nutritional security. He emphasized the importance of creating synergies between two of the world’s most dynamic agritech ecosystems, positioning Maitri 2.0 as a catalyst for sustainable growth.

Adding to the momentum, Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director of ICAR–IARI, noted that the institute has already supported over 400 agri-startups, turning innovative ideas into viable business models. “Agriculture must be seen as both a livelihood and a business,” he said, underscoring the role of entrepreneurship in shaping the future of farming. Setting the broader context, Dr. Neeru Bhushan, ADG (IPTM), emphasized that both nations face common challenges of climate change, food security, and the need for sustainable intensification, making collaboration not just desirable but urgent.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. Vishwanathan Srinivasan, JD, ICAR–IARI, who acknowledged the efforts of ICAR and the Embassy of Brazil in driving this partnership forward. By bringing together innovators, startups, and institutions from both countries, Maitri 2.0 aims to create a robust pipeline of solutions that strengthen incubator linkages, exchange best practices, and promote co-incubation. The initiative will also open new opportunities in sustainable agriculture, digital technologies, and value-chain development — positioning India and Brazil as co-creators of resilient food systems for a rapidly changing world.