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HomePosts Tagged "Director General of ICRISAT"
Agro Universities, Agrotech, India, R&D

 The portable sensors allow for quick evaluation of nutrition levels in indigenous food grains right at the farmer’s gate or in research fields.

Researchers at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) are leading a transformation in crop testing, combining AI-driven models and pocket-size near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) devices. These portable sensors allow for quick evaluation of nutrition levels in indigenous food grains right at the farmer’s gate or in research fields.

Director General of ICRISAT, Dr Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes, championed the integration of this disruptive technology into breeding pipelines and key points of relevant value chains. Aligned with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) strategy, Dr Hughes foresees the tool as a catalyst for the production of nutrient-dense crops, both in breeding programs and in farmers’ fields, a crucial element in the global fight against malnutrition.

“This technology is poised to expedite the breeding of nutrient-dense crops while facilitating their integration into the value chain. Our goal with this intervention is to provide quality assurance for the distribution of nutritionally fortified crops, so that they reach those who need them most,” remarked Dr Hughes.

Traditionally, assessing the nutritional quality of grains and feedstock could take a number of weeks, involving manual or partially automated processes and laboratory instruments. In contrast, mobile NIRS devices are more cost-effective and can assess over 150 samples per day per person.

These non-destructive and robust grain quality measuring devices provide timely information on grain composition and can be used to promote quality-based payments in the market—benefiting food producers, grain processing industries, and farmers alike.

“We see the adoption of portable technology for assessing grain quality as an important step in decentralizing and democratizing market systems, essential to promote the consumption of nutri-cereals. This transition can facilitate quality-driven payments for farmers, while providing quality assurance to health-conscious households moving forward,” noted Dr Sean Mayes, Global Research Director of the Accelerated Crop Improvement Program at ICRISAT.

 The portable sensors allow for quick evaluation

Agro Universities, Foodgrains, R&D

Key outcomes of the meeting included the development of plans for establishing Centers of Excellence on Millets in major millet-producing countries.

Agricultural leaders, policymakers, and high-level representatives from the global south gathered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 25-26 March 2024, to chart a course for collective action beyond the International Year of Millets 2023 (IYM2023).

Millets, hailed for their climate resilience and nutritional density, have garnered global recognition as a crucial component in the fight against food insecurity and environmental degradation, providing hope to the 2.1 billion people who live in the arid regions of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

High-level representatives from leading millet-producing countries in the global south including India, Mali, Nigeria, Niger, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and Malawi, alongside prominent organizations such as the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), and the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), came together to devise strategies for strengthened collaboration under a shared vision of resilience for the drylands.

Director General of ICRISAT, Dr Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes, said the elevated level of representation and engagement from all participants during the two-day session augurs well for the future of millets.

“It is important that we build on the momentum and legacy of the IYM2023 to ensure the world has access to millets, which are Smart Food with the ability to feed and nourish the planet amid growing global populations, increasing temperatures and climatic events,” Dr Hughes remarked.

“I thank all stakeholders who made the effort to attend and actively participate in these two intensive days of strategic planning, knowledge sharing and deliberations. Together, we have laid the groundwork for sustained progress in millet promotion and adoption in the global south,” she added.

Key outcomes of the meeting included the development of plans for establishing Centers of Excellence on Millets in major millet-producing countries. Centers are envisioned to serve as hubs for innovation, research, and knowledge exchange, driving sustainable crop production, resilient value chains, and broader consumer access to affordable and nutritious millet-based diets.

The convening also served as a platform to reaffirm a shared commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the global south, particularly by supporting food security, poverty eradication, and environmental sustainability. 

Key outcomes of the meeting included the

Agro Universities, India, R&D, Sustainability

Decentralised biochar production technology will be an affordable and viable option for farmers and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to solve the issues around crop residues in a sustainable manner.

As global concerns over sustainable agriculture and climate change intensify, the use of biochar for soil amendment is increasingly gaining popularity because of its inherent properties that enrich the soil with nutrients and sequester carbon dioxide. These properties position biochar as a key player in agriculture’s shift towards net-zero emissions and in preventing soil degradation.

A recent study by ICRISAT scientists explores the design of an affordable, farm-level operable kiln for biochar production aimed at supporting smallholder farmers. The research paper also examines the properties of the biochar produced to better understand its applicability.

In her congratulatory remarks to the study’s authors, Director General of ICRISAT, Dr Jacqueline Hughes, underscored the significance of integrated solutions in accelerating our collective journey towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Biochar production not only solves the issue of managing crop residues, but its application in soil health, wastewater treatment and carbon farming opens up enormous opportunities to move towards a cleaner and greener future,” Dr Hughes shared.

According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, India produces over 500 million tons of agricultural residues annually, with about one fourth being burned (2017-2018). The incineration of these residues causes several health and environmental concerns. However, converting these residues into biochar presents a viable alternative, offering not just a method for managing this waste, but also the potential for additional revenue or cost savings for farmers. 

Dr ML Jat, Director, Global Research Program – Resilient Farm and Food Systems, ICRISAT emphasized the importance of adopting a decentralized approach to ensure that the process benefits the farmers.

“This low-cost, decentralized biochar production technology will be an affordable and viable option for farmers and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to solve the issues around crop residues in a sustainable manner. Moreover, this technology also aligns well with government incentives for voluntary carbon markets and environmental initiatives like the ‘Mission Life-Lifestyle for the Environment program,'” Dr Jat noted.

The characteristics of biochar significantly depend on the type of crop residue used. In this study, two types of feedstocks—pigeonpea and maize stalk—were used to draw a comparison between the ICRISAT-designed pyrolysis kiln and a lab-scale muffle furnace.

The study also examined the physical and chemical attributes of biochar derived from the two feedstocks, using high-end imaging and analytical technologies such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA).

Research reveals that biochar created in the portable kiln at 400°C exhibits a quality comparable to that produced in the muffle furnace. Further analysis shows that the biochar derived from pigeonpea and maize stalks contains total carbon percentages of 48.9 per cent and 41.9 per cent, respectively. Within these totals, the proportion of stable carbon stands at approximately 98.6 per cent for pigeonpea stalk biochar and 94.4 per cent for maize stalk biochar.

“Organic waste management methods like composting and mulching are efficient, yet thermochemical techniques, such as pyrolysis, offer distinct advantages, including quicker processing times and higher efficiency, particularly with dry residues,” Dr Gajanan Sawargaonkar, Senior Scientist, ICRISAT, and one of the study’s authors, remarked. 

Dr Sawargaonkar also highlighted that the data produced in the study will significantly contribute to the development of a holistic set of practices aimed at advancing sustainable agriculture.

Decentralised biochar production technology will be an

Agro Universities, Pulses, R&D

The new convention promises to substantially cut the time required to develop new pigeonpea lines with desirable traits, effectively bringing food to dryland communities faster.

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has pioneered the world’s first pigeonpea speed breeding protocol, further bolstering food security in Asia and Africa. The new convention promises to substantially cut the time required to develop new pigeonpea lines with desirable traits, effectively bringing food to dryland communities faster.

Traditionally, pigeonpea breeding can take up to thirteen years. But with the new protocol’s emphasis on material breeding and control over factors like photoperiod, temperature, and humidity, the breeding cycle can now be shortened to just two to four years, as opposed to the conventional period of seven years. Pigeonpea, a staple in tropical and subtropical diets, is crucial for food security and soil health globally and is lauded for its nutritional value and versatility.

Dr Jacqueline Hughes, Director General of ICRISAT, underscored the consequence of the innovation. “This pigeonpea speed breeding protocol represents a significant advancement for major pigeonpea-producing regions, paving the way for self-reliance in pulse production and meeting the dietary necessities of nations such as India, Myanmar, Kenya, Tanzania, Myanmar, and Mozambique.

Historically, pigeonpea’s long growth cycle and sensitivity to day length have hindered breeding efforts, with only about 250 varieties released globally over six decades. ​

This new speed breeding protocol addresses these challenges head-on, enabling researchers to develop climate-resilient, nutritionally superior, and higher-yielding pigeonpea varieties at an unprecedented pace.

Dr Arvind Padhee, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha, acknowledged the protocol’s potential to rapidly develop climate-resilient pigeonpea varieties, highlighting the vital support from the Government of Odisha.

India’s increasing demand for pigeonpea, projected to necessitate the import of 1.2 million tonnes by March 2024, underscores the timeliness of this open-access protocol. It offers a blueprint for rapid, efficient pigeonpea variety development, contributing significantly to the goal of achieving self-sufficiency in pulse production. The new protocol, accomplished through the establishment of ICRISAT’s Rapid Generation Advancement Facility, owes its success to the generous support from donors via CGIAR initiatives, underscoring the spirit of collaboration in agricultural innovation. Significant backing for the project to develop the new protocol was received from the Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Government of Odisha, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and the Government of India.

The new convention promises to substantially cut

Agro Universities, Agrotech

Two-week training program aimed at fostering innovation and technology commercialization in African nations.

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) concluded a highly impactful two-week training program aimed at fostering innovation and technology commercialization in African nations. Representatives from 11 African countries participated in the intensive learning experience from January 29 to February 10, 2024.

The event made possible through the generous support of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program under the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, commenced with an inaugural address by Snehaja Jonnalagadda, Chief of the MEA Branch Secretariat in Hyderabad, on January 29, 2024.

Highlighting the significance of the event, a valedictory ceremony was held on February 9, 2024, where participants were bestowed with certificates.

In her remarks, Dr Jacqueline Hughes, Director General of ICRISAT, lauded the diverse expertise brought forth by participants, representing various ministries and national institutes of science, technology, and agriculture across their respective nations.

Dr Hughes expressed gratitude to the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India for their support and underscored the importance of safeguarding intellectual assets, particularly from a legal standpoint.

Dr Deepanwita Chattopadhyay, Chairperson and CEO of IKP Knowledge Park in Hyderabad, also addressed the gathering and presented certificates to the participants.

In her address, Dr Chattopadhyay emphasised the imperative of leveraging the training received, particularly as many participants hold pivotal roles in negotiations within their countries.

Dr Chattopadhyay highlighted the importance of strategic planning in negotiations, urging participants to prioritize opportunities that serve the best interests of their nations.

Dr Suryamani Tripathi, Global Head – Legal Services at ICRISAT, and Dr Padmaja Ravula, Coordinator of ICRISAT’s Dryland Academy, emphasised the role of participants as ambassadors for their countries and advocated for the continuation of the invaluable network established during the training.

Two-week training program aimed at fostering innovation

Agro Universities, AgroPolicy, Agrotech, India, R&D

The collaboration would focus on research related to value chains, seed systems, sustainable diversification, and water-budget integration in drought-prone regions of Bihar.

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Topics (ICRISAT) is collaborating with the Government of Bihar to provide scientific support for the implementation of Bihar’s 4th Krishi (agricultural) Road Map. The plan aims to enhance the sustainability and profitability of crop production in the state, which encompasses diverse agro-climatic zones and which experiences floods and droughts.

Dr Mangala Rai, Agriculture Advisor to the Chief Minister of Bihar chaired a meeting in which representatives from ICRISAT, Bihar’s Department of Agriculture, allied departments, and universities came together to develop an action plan for the roadmap.

Deputy Director General of Research at ICRISAT Dr Arvind Kumar said the Institute was privileged to be part of the 4th Krishi Road Map and the collaboration would encompass cutting-edge research in molecular biology, crop improvement, and millet research, bolstered by innovative technologies and approaches such as gene editing, speed breeding, and landscape-based cultivation methods.

“The partnership will also focus on research related to value chains, seed systems, sustainable diversification, and water-budget integration in drought-prone regions of Bihar emphasizing the concept of One Health – encompassing feed and fodder research and breeding,” said Dr Kumar.

Dr Jacqueline Hughes, Director General of ICRISAT, applauded the collaboration and said ICRISAT was delighted to support the 4th Krishi roadmap in fortifying Bihar’s agricultural sector.

“This signifies a remarkable moment for transformative progress in Bihar. Through our collaboration, we can harness the power of cutting-edge research, innovative solutions, and evidence-based strategies to catalyse sustainable agricultural development in the state.

“Bihar’s agriculture roadmap places a strong emphasis on capacity building and skill development for the next generation of researchers from agricultural universities, and I am encouraged that it is committed to inclusive development, recognising the importance of gender and youth empowerment.

“By joining forces, we are poised to unlock the full potential of Bihar’s agricultural landscape, fostering resilience, productivity, and prosperity for the farming community, and nurturing a vibrant rural economy for enhanced food sovereignty, livelihoods, and social well-being,” said Dr Hughes.

The collaboration would focus on research related