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HomePosts Tagged "Dr Stanford Blade"
AgroPolicy, Collaborations

As India intensifies efforts to fight hunger and malnutrition, the Tata-Cornell Institute (TCI) and ICRISAT are helping policymakers with evidence-based strategies to include millet in the Public Distribution System (PDS) which provides food subsidies to low-income families

Known as “Smart Foods,” millets are globally celebrated for being nutrient-rich and climate-resilient.

Alongside staples like rice and wheat, they provide important benefits for food security and nutrition, yet their inclusion in the PDS remains largely underutilized. To advance solutions, a TCI forum on ‘Promoting Millets in the PDS’ was hosted at ICRISAT’s Hyderabad campus, bringing together key participants from across the country.

The event featured an opening address by Dr Prabhu Pingali, ICRISAT Board Chair and Director of the Tata-Cornell Institute. Professor Prabhu Pingali said that novel insights were leading to reforms, helping to pave the way for a more effective and future-ready Public Distribution System in India. “With the potential of cash-based vouchers, families can gain the freedom to choose the nutritious foods they need, such as millet, rather than being limited to fixed staples, increasing demand for these nutritious grains and sending a strong price signal to millet producers to increase supply,” said Dr Pingali.

Through its project on the true cost of food subsidies in India, TCI has estimated the hidden costs associated with the PDS.

In a study published in Environmental Research Letters, researchers show that the true cost of the PDS in 2021-22 was $45.3 billion when the economic and environmental impacts of rice and wheat production were considered, compared with $16.5 billion budgeted by the federal government. They further demonstrated that replacing 1 kilogram of rice with millets for 200 million PDS beneficiaries would shrink the program’s true cost by $1.37 billion each year. Dr Stanford Blade, Director General-Interim, ICRISAT, emphasized the need to build on the momentum created by the International Year of Millets-2023 and ICRISAT’s Smart Food campaign. “This discussion is crucial for integrating millets into the Public Distribution System and avoiding the exclusivity that occurred with quinoa,’ said Dr. Blade.

Mr Manoj Kumar, CEO of the Naandi Foundation, moderated the session. Dr Raghav Puri, a Research Associate at the Tata-Cornell Institute, shared statistics on millet production and consumption in India, highlighting the potential to revive millet cultivation in traditional growing regions where it has declined. Ms Priya Rampal (Oxford Policy Management), Ms Bhagya Laxmi (WASSAN NGO), and Mr Dinesh Balam (Odisha Millet Mission) discussed challenges and opportunities in millet procurement and distribution in Karnataka, Telangana, and Odisha. Active participation by ICRISAT scientists provided valuable insights from the field.

As India intensifies efforts to fight hunger

Collaborations, R&D, Sustainability

ICRISAT was granted its first industrial design in India for a Solar-Powered Water Hyacinth Harvester developed by a team of scientists. The harvester is simple, affordable, and can be efficiently managed by semi-skilled or unskilled personnel

The solar-powered equipment, designed and fabricated in-house, is an affordable solution priced at under Rs 200,000, making it ideal for rural farming communities that cannot afford sophisticated machinery costing 10 times as much. It offers substantial benefits, including 50–60 per cent savings in cost, time, and labor, while prioritizing using clean energy.

Water hyacinth infestations in rural ponds disrupt ecosystems, harm fisheries, and block canals. Their rapid growth and long-lasting seeds make eradication difficult. Just 8–10 plants can proliferate into over 600,000 plants within 6–8 months.

Dr Stanford Blade, Director General-Interim of ICRISAT, commended the team behind the mechanical harvester, stating, “Water hyacinth infestation is a global environmental challenge. This cost-effective harvester reflects ICRISAT’s dedication to creating environment-friendly solutions tailored to the needs of rural communities that are also technologically and economically sustainable.”

ICRISAT’s harvester, categorized as agricultural machinery, was developed as part of the project “Sustainable Valorisation of Water Hyacinth Biomass through Aerobic Composting as a Rural Enterprise—A Waste to Wealth Initiative,” supported by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha, India.

“Local stakeholders, especially women self-help groups (SHGs), can play a key role in converting biomass into compost, fish feed, or handmade paper. These women-led enterprises can generate alternative livelihoods and boost inland fisheries, creating significant socio-economic and environmental impacts,” said Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha.

Dr Aviraj Datta, the project’s principal investigator, led the development of the harvester, ably supported by ICRISAT staff Dr Mangi Lal Jat, Dr Ramesh Singh, Mr Hari Om Singh, Mr Santhosh Kumar Raja, Mr Yogesh Kumar, and Mr Jinith Mahajhan. The ICRISAT Intellectual Property (IP) office facilitated the evaluation and filing of the application with the Design Registry, India, ensuring due diligence throughout the process.

ICRISAT was granted its first industrial design

Agro Universities, India, Interaction

Key stakeholders, including government officials, industry leaders, and ICRISAT scientists, attended the panel discussion.

A delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Telangana engaged in a focused panel discussion and interactive session with ICRISAT to explore collaboration opportunities in agriculture and food processing in Hyderabad. Key stakeholders, including government officials, industry leaders, and ICRISAT scientists, attended.

The interactive session held at the ICRISAT auditorium focused on exploring collaborative opportunities. It featured insights from M Raghunandan Rao, IAS, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Government of Telangana; Dr Krishna Ella, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech; and Dr Stanford Blade, Interim Director General and Deputy Director General-Research at ICRISAT; Prof V Praveen Rao, Advisor, CII Telangana Agri & Food Processing Panel & Vice-Chancellor; Kaveri University and D Sunil Reddy, Co-Convenor, CII Telangana Agri & Food Processing Panel & Managing Director Dodla Dairy Pvt. Ltd

M Raghunandan Rao, IAS, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Government of Telangana, said that mechanisation of agriculture will increase efficiencies, and value addition will increase sustainability. Farmers could come together and opt for mechanization. Farming has to provide social benefits to the population as it has to be an environmental system. In the Indian context, where farm sizes are small, sustainability discussions must prioritise farmers. Our efforts should focus on creating systems that ensure sustainable incomes for smallholder farmers.

Dr Stanford Blade, Interim Director General and Deputy Director General-Research at ICRISAT, remarked, “ICRISAT and CII are natural partners in advancing agricultural and food processing innovation. The combined strengths of ICRISAT’s research expertise and CII’s strong connections with industry, government, and civil society offer great potential for driving sustainable development in India’s agricultural sector.”

Dr Krishna Ella, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech International Ltd., said that in the Indian context, given that our farmers are large and our farms are small, we must build algorithms and concepts that will keep the sustainability of the farmer’s income in mind. He stressed the need for convergence in agriculture, particularly amid reduced funding. He urged government intervention to foster partnerships between state agricultural universities and ICRISAT, advocating for collaboration, streamlining, and consolidation to optimise resources and impact.

Sai Prasad, Chairman of CII Telangana and Executive Director at Bharat Biotech International Ltd., invited ICRISAT to join CII’s Food and Agriculture Panel. He emphasized leveraging ICRISAT’s research capabilities for Telangana.

Prof. V Praveen Rao, Advisor to the CII Telangana Agri & Food Processing Panel, highlighted the transformative potential of nurturing small enterprises. He stated that with 6.5 million farmers in Telangana, even enabling 0.1 million Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) could significantly improve livelihoods.

D Sunil Reddy, Co-Convenor of the CII Telangana Agri & Food Processing Panel and Managing Director of Dodla Dairy Pvt. Ltd said that we have to look at not only production but also aggregation, processing, distribution, consumption, and waste disposal.

Key stakeholders, including government officials, industry leaders,

Agro Universities, India, People

Dr Blade currently serves as Deputy Director General – Research until the new Director General, Dr Himanshu Pathak, takes up the position next year.

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) announces a transition of leadership as Dr Jacqueline Hughes, the outgoing Director General, hands over official duties to Dr Stanford Blade, who will serve as Director General – Interim.

Dr Blade currently serves as Deputy Director General – Research and will guide the institute during this period of transition until the new Director General, Dr Himanshu Pathak, takes up the position next year. Dr Hughes expressed confidence in Dr Blade’s leadership as he assumes the role of Director General – Interim. “I leave ICRISAT in capable hands, knowing that Dr Blade’s deep commitment to our mission and his strategic expertise will ensure continuity as we advance our work in resilient agriculture,” stated Dr Hughes.

As Director General – Interim, Dr Blade is committed to reinforcing ICRISAT’s position as a leader in dryland agricultural research, championing scientific innovation, resilience-building, and partnerships.

“I am honoured to serve as a bridge for ICRISAT during this pivotal time, ensuring we maintain momentum until Dr Pathak joins us next year. Together, we remain dedicated to supporting smallholder farmers and delivering on our promise of a more food-secure and climate-resilient future,” said Dr Blade.

ICRISAT thanks Dr Hughes for her exceptional leadership and welcomes Dr Blade to this vital interim role. The institute looks forward to continuing its mission with renewed commitment and advancing agricultural innovations that benefit dryland communities worldwide.

Dr Blade currently serves as Deputy Director

Agro Universities, Collaborations, Foodgrains, India, R&D, Seeds

The project aims to enhance sustainable livestock production and improve the socio-economic conditions of marginalised farmers across the Kashmir Valley.

Jammu and Kashmir, in northern India, will release new forage sorghum varieties in 2025, marking the first successful adaptation of this dryland crop to the region’s temperate climate. The release follows advanced on-farm trials of elite sorghum lines conducted by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in collaboration with the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Kashmir.

The project aims to enhance sustainable livestock production and improve the socio-economic conditions of marginalized farmers across the Kashmir Valley by releasing these cold-tolerant sorghum varieties in 2025.

The partnership focused on promoting dual-purpose sorghum varieties that provide both grain and forage. These varieties aim to enhance food, feed, and fodder security, addressing the critical feed supply-demand gap in the region’s animal husbandry sector, which plays a vital role in the local economy. Currently, the region is facing a 40 per cent fodder deficit.

Dr Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General-Research of ICRISAT, highlighted the collaborative nature of the project said “This initiative reflects ICRISAT’s commitment to delivering demand-driven innovations. Partnering with SKUAST has allowed us to co-develop sustainable solutions that benefit smallholder farmers and the broader agricultural sector”

Livestock rearing is crucial in the Kashmir Valley, providing essential protein and employment opportunities. However, the limited availability of nutritious feed poses a significant challenge for the sector, especially at high altitudes.

Fodder sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) has emerged as a promising solution. It offers high biomass production of up to 50 tons per hectare, has adaptability to local conditions and also high nutritional value. Its cultivation can improve livestock productivity and enhance the rural economy, directly benefiting marginalized communities, especially smallholder farmers and landless labor dependent on animal husbandry for their livelihoods.

Prof. Nazir A Ganai, Vice Chancellor of SKUAST Kashmir, praised the initiative: “This marks a significant step toward achieving feed, fodder, and livelihood security, especially for underprivileged tribal communities in high-altitude areas.”

Through the initiative, a comprehensive multi-environment evaluation program was established to identify high-yielding, nutritionally rich sorghum genotypes suited for the unique agro-climatic conditions of the Kashmir Valley. The trials, conducted over two cropping cycles, assessed biomass yield, nutritional quality, and adaptability to low temperatures, leading to the identification of superior cultivars.

“Developing elite sorghum lines tailored to Kashmir’s high-altitude ecologies is a remarkable achievement that will further inform our efforts to extend the cultivation north of 40° latitude,” said Dr Ephrem Habyarimana, Principal Scientist – Sorghum Breeding.

The project aims to enhance sustainable livestock

Agro Universities, People, R&D

Dr Blade will officially assume his role as Deputy Director General-Research at ICRISAT on 1 April 2024.

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has announced the appointment of Dr Stanford Blade as the new Deputy Director General-Research. Dr Blade has an extensive background in agricultural research and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this critical leadership position. Dr Blade will officially assume his role as Deputy Director General-Research at ICRISAT on 1 April 2024.

Prior to joining ICRISAT, Dr Blade served as the Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences (ALES) at the University of Alberta, Canada. He has also served as the Deputy Director General-Research for the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and as Vice-Chair on the Board of Trustees of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation, a Nairobi-based agency supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Dr Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes, Director General of ICRISAT, officially welcomed the appointment. “We are pleased to have Dr Stanford Blade join the organization as Deputy Director General-Research. His substantial experience, both in academia and international research institutions, will undoubtedly strengthen ICRISAT’s capacity to tackle the intricate challenges confronted by farmers in the semi-arid tropics. We look forward to his leadership in driving impactful and sustainable agricultural research,” said Dr Hughes.

Dr Blade holds a Ph.D. from McGill University for plant breeding/cropping systems research, conducted at IITA and supported by a Government of Canada Doctoral Scholarship. His global recognition in the field of agriculture was underscored in 2018 when he was named an International Fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry.

“I am honored to join ICRISAT and work alongside a team of dedicated professionals committed to advancing agricultural research for the benefit of smallholder farmers. I look forward to contributing to the institute’s mission of enhancing food security, improving livelihoods, and sustaining natural resources in the semi-arid tropics” said Dr Stanford Blade.

ICRISAT looks forward to the positive impact his leadership will have on the institute’s research initiatives and global contributions to sustainable agriculture.

Dr Blade will officially assume his role