In a significant engagement, Dr. Tarun Shridhar, Director General of the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA), met with Hon'ble Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, Minister Shri Piyush Goyal to explore collaborative strategies for advancing India's agricultural exports and fostering a culture of healthy living. The dialogue highlighted ICFA's commitment to supporting national priorities through policy advocacy and industry partnerships.
A landmark event in New Delhi, organized by the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture, Phoenix Foundation, Indian School of Business, and AARDO, brought together political and industry leaders, experts, and changemakers for the planet to celebrate the World Earth Day. Union Minister Mr. Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the event, emphasizing bamboo as a powerful solution to climate challenges. He called for a development model where ecology and economy go hand in hand, and urged that bamboo become central to policy planning for environmental protection. Former Union Minister and ICFA chairman, Mr. Suresh Prabhu emphasised on making making greening drive economically justified for farmers for making it mass movement. On this momentous day, the 10-Point Delhi Declaration was adopted, aiming to green the Earth and reduce global warming by 0.5% over the next decade. Over 1400 delegates from 15 states participated in the program.
On the occasion of World Health Day, the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) hosted a high-level discussion on agriculture-led growth and its implications for nutrition and public health. The session was part of ICFAs broader initiative - Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH) - and emphasized the importance of forming a Food, Nutrition, and Health Council to create a more integrated and systemic approach.
We are pleased to announce that the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the German Agribusiness Alliance (GAA) to strengthen Indo-German collaboration in agribusiness. The MoU was signed by Dr. Per Brodersen, Director, GAA, and Ms. Shreyasi Agarwal, CEO, ICFA, marking a significant milestone in enabling knowledge exchange, policy advocacy and facilitating trade and investment opportunities between the two nations. This strategic partnership aims to drive innovation, enhance sustainable agricultural practices, and create new business avenues, reinforcing the shared commitment of India and Germany towards a resilient and future-ready agribusiness ecosystem.
Mr. Eric Trachtenberg was hosted by the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture in New Delhi for policy discussions on cotton. Eric made detailed presentation on cotton issues and opportunities, policy, trade and technology challenges, trends and future scenario. The meeting was joined by Dr. SS Gosal, VC, PAU, Dr. YG Prasad, Director, CICR, Mr. M Prabhakar Rao, President, NSAI, Mr. Raju Kapoor, Director, FMC, Dr. KC Ravi, Director, Syngenta, Mr. RK Chitkara, Advisor, Mr. R Sampathkumar, ED, FSII, Dr M Gorantla, MD, ATGC Biotech, Ms. Michelle Dennis, Director, WAF and Ms Shreyasi Agarwal, CEO, ICFA
The first meeting of the reconstituted ICFA Board took place yesterday in New Delhi, Chaired by Mr Suresh Prabhu. The Board deliberated upon the issues and challenges, and also the opportunities in farming, food and agriculture, nationally and globally, and the interventions ICFA should make. While policy research and data driven advocacy remains central to ICFA work, the Chamber will focus more on agribusinesses and agro exports facilitation and farmers empowerment through trade, digital technologies and market linkages. Decision was taken to launch Agriculture Policy Council and Working Group on Soil Health and Plant Nutrition, and also expanding network of ICFA District Councils for FarmerPlus Project, and ICFA Country Councils for global outreach. The meeting was joined by the Vice Chairman, Mr. Simon Wiebusch, MD, Bayer, and online by Mr. Jayen Mehta, MD, AMUL, Dr. Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NDDB and Dr. Ashok Dalwai, Co-chair. 20+ Board Members joined the meeting, moderated by Dr. Tarun Shridhar, DG, assisted by Ms. Shreyasi Agarwal, CEO, ICFA.
The Grains World Conference 2024, organized by the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) with the support of the International Grains Council, was successfully held in New Delhi. This two-day global event served as a platform for key stakeholders in the agro-industry to deliberate on the future of cereals, pulses, grains, and millets. The conference focused on addressing critical challenges in grain production and trade while exploring sustainable solutions to ensure global access to safe and nutritious food. Key discussions covered global supply chains, trade policies, market trends, and eco-friendly agricultural practices. Innovative strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change on food systems were a prominent theme. Grains World 2024 facilitated collaboration and provided valuable insights, contributing to the development of a more resilient and sustainable global grains industry.
Mr. Ashwani Bakshi, CEO, of the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture had a phenomenal meeting with the Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Mr. Chirag Paswan, along with Mr. Haris Khan, Director. The agenda was focused on the briefing of ICFA and the upcoming GrainsWorld 2024 and India Food 2025, and policy Round Tables, where the Minister expressed his eagerness to support the initiatives. The Minister invited ICFA to work closely with the Ministry in expanding the opportunities for business and investments in this sector and also helping farmers in market linkages and value addition by better connect with the food processing industry.
The India Digital Agri Conference 2024, co-organized by the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture and IIT Ropar iHub - AWaDH, took place on October 11th at The Park Hotel, New Delhi. It brought together policymakers, industry experts, entrepreneurs, and farmers to explore digital agriculture's transformative potential. The event emphasized knowledge exchange, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration, paving the way for sustainable growth. Shri Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary of Agriculture, highlighted the significance of the Digital Agriculture Mission in modernizing Indian agriculture and empowering farmers. The event also focused on policy dialogue, market linkages, and building climate-resilient agricultural systems. Engaging panel discussions further enriched the event, making it a great success.
ICFA organized a Business Round Table at dinner at Hotel Renaissance by Marriot in Lucknow, participated by 40+ CEOs and officials. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Avanish Awasthi, IAS 1987 Batch, Advisor to the Chief Minister, and joined by Mr. Gabriel Sinimbo, Namibia High Commissioner, Dr. Poonam Malakondaiah, IAS 1988 Batch, Ex ACS Agriculture, Andhra Pradesh, Ms Nidhi Choudhary, IFS, 1st Secretary, Indian High Commission, UK and Mr. Mukesh B Singh, Chairman, ICFA UP State Council. This meeting was prelude to a day long Uttar Pradesh State Agriculture Summit taking place today, graced by the Hon’ble Dy CM, the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Horticulture, besides Secretaries and Directors of Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry.
