ICRISAT: Experts for stronger networking between global dryland community

Delegates from over 20 countries deliberate on the way forward for dryland crop improvement in the global south

Sangareddy: The global dryland networking and partnership meet, hosted by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) provided a unique platform for key stakeholders to build networks, break silos, and come together in a spirit of collaboration.

With over 60 breeders and seed systems specialists from National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) of more than 20 countries across Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Australia, alongside leaders from ICAR, ICARDA, CIMMYT, and ICRISAT, the event proved to be a pivotal moment for building stronger relationships and networks across the global dryland community.

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Director General-Interim ICRISAT Dr Stanford Blade stated this gathering represents a critical opportunity to renew their collective energy and commitment. “By building and extending partnerships, we can better address the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in dryland regions,” he said.

A key highlight of the meeting was the panel discussion on the way forward for dryland crop improvement in the global south, where panelists and participants emphasised the development of the global dryland crop improvement network.

The demand-side assessment of NARS served as the foundation for the panel discussion, focusing on the challenges and opportunities in global dryland crop improvement. Calling for stronger partnerships and innovative strategies to drive progress, the experts insisted on the inclusion of the International Institute of Livestock Research (ILRI) in future discussions, as livestock were a critical component of dryland farming.

They also emphasised the integration of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and robotics into crop improvement efforts.