The ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, in partnership with the S M Sehgal Foundation (SMSF), Gurugram, officially launched a collaborative initiative titled “Application of Advanced Technologies for Improved Productivity and Resource-use Efficiency in Regenerative Agriculture Production Systems.” The launch event convened leading experts and stakeholders to discuss the future of Indian agriculture and the transformative potential of regenerative technologies, including automation-enabled subsurface drip fertigation.

Padma Bhushan Dr. R. S. Paroda, President of the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences and former Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR), delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the urgent need to shift from conventional intensive farming to regenerative systems. He noted that factor productivity of key inputs, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, is declining, posing a long-term threat to India’s agricultural sustainability.

Reflecting on the Green Revolution’s legacy of food self-sufficiency, Dr. Paroda argued that the next agricultural revolution must restore natural resources while improving input-use efficiency. Citing lessons from the U.S. soybean–corn system, he suggested India diversify beyond the rice–wheat system toward more resource-efficient alternatives, such as soybean–wheat or Arhar–wheat rotations.

Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director and Vice-Chancellor of ICAR-IARI (deemed to be University), highlighted the twin challenges of climate change and water scarcity as the most pressing issues facing Indian agriculture. He stressed the importance of enhancing resource-use efficiency and managing soil carbon to achieve both productivity gains and environmental sustainability. Dr. Rao further underscored the role of micro-irrigation, particularly subsurface drip fertigation, in conserving water and fertilizer, improving crop yields, enhancing soil health, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The event concluded with the formal launch of the project at the Division of Agronomy, ICAR-IARI research farm, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at building climate-resilient and resource-efficient agricultural production systems for India’s future.