In a significant stride towards transforming agriculture across the Global South, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in collaboration with the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), launched the ICRISAT Centre of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA) today. The announcement came during the high-profile Conference on Global South and Triangular Cooperation: Emerging Facets, held in New Delhi.
The launch was further marked by the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ICRISAT and DAKSHIN (Development and Knowledge Sharing Initiative), a Government of India initiative aimed at reinforcing South-South cooperation through knowledge partnerships and capacity-building.
A New Hub for Global Agricultural Development
The ISSCA is envisioned as a dedicated platform to accelerate innovation, share agricultural knowledge, and build resilient partnerships among countries facing similar climatic, agricultural, and socio-economic challenges. It symbolizes a collective push towards inclusive and sustainable agricultural transformation, especially in dryland regions.
A key feature of ISSCA is its interactive digital portal, designed to be a dynamic repository of validated agricultural innovations. It will promote peer-to-peer learning, policy exchange, partnership facilitation, and the deployment of low-cost, high-impact technologies tailored to the needs of developing nations.
Voices from the Launch
Speaking at the event, Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, emphasized the need for coordinated global efforts:
“The Global South is rich in innovation and indigenous solutions. What we need now is scaled-up investment, coordinated action, and stronger partnerships. ISSCA is a testament to our commitment to making that a reality.”
Dr. Pathak also applauded DAKSHIN and RIS for their leadership in advancing the cause of South-South and Triangular Cooperation, stressing that ISSCA will empower countries to lead their agricultural evolution with science, partnerships, and shared prosperity.
Professor Sachin Chaturvedi, Director General of RIS, underlined the importance of scalable, sustainable knowledge-sharing models:
“DAKSHIN seeks to support countries of the Global South in transforming their economies by identifying and sharing replicable agricultural solutions. Our partnership with ICRISAT through ISSCA is a key milestone in this journey.”
He noted that the collaboration will especially focus on sustainable production systems, value-added processing, and the deployment of climate-smart digital agriculture technologies.
Institutional Backing from ICAR
Reinforcing the commitment of Indian institutions, Dr. Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of ICAR, expressed his strong support:
“ICAR’s partnership with ISSCA reflects our dedication to collaborative agricultural research and development across the Global South. We are committed to sharing India’s agricultural expertise to foster mutual growth.”
The establishment of ISSCA is poised to serve as a catalyst for translating science into policy and practice in regions where agricultural resilience is a pressing concern. It creates a bridge for countries in the Global South to co-create solutions for food security, climate resilience, and socio-economic development.
As nations increasingly look to shared solutions for shared challenges, the ISSCA stands as a beacon of collective strength, innovation, and the promise of a greener, more equitable agricultural future.
