Global agricultural leaders, policymakers, scientists, and farmers have gathered in New Delhi for DialogueNEXT, a two-day event aimed at accelerating breakthrough innovations to secure the world’s food future. The conference is being held at the ICAR Convention Centre, PUSA Campus. The event is hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation in partnership with CIMMYT, the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Director General of ICAR, stated that emerging global trends pose complex challenges to agri-food systems. He said these challenges require systemic, smallholder farmer-centric solutions and their accelerated uptake, which necessitates greater investments in science, innovations, and partnerships. Jat also asserted that due to its rapid agricultural transformation, India is positioned to serve as a smallholder agriculture innovation hub for the Global South.
The conference, themed “Take it to the Farmer,” builds on a similar event held in Mexico last year. It emphasizes the urgent need for transformative agricultural solutions to reach farmers, particularly across the Global South. The event celebrates India’s powerful legacy of agricultural innovation, honors Indian World Food Prize Laureates, and showcases the country’s leadership in global food systems. According to Nicole Prenger, Senior Director of Global Programs and Strategic Communications at the World Food Prize Foundation, the conference is designed to mobilize action for a “moonshot” effort to sustainably feed a growing global population. She noted that the conference is being held in India 60 years after Dr. Norman Borlaug helped introduce semi-dwarf wheat, which helped double production in less than a decade and stave off an imminent famine.
Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT and BISA, stated that India’s leadership and agricultural innovations are crucial for unlocking gains in productivity, sustainability, and access across the entire agri-food value chain. He added that the event helps connect the dots and garner support to scale these efforts both in India and around the world. The conference has brought together senior government officials, scientists, and agricultural leaders from Asia, Europe, and the Americas, including a delegation from Iowa, USA, and officials from Bhutan and Nepal.
