Working Group on Eco Agriculture and Bio products 2017

“To be economical… Agriculture must be ecological!”

The Sustainable Development Goals, endorsed by the United Nations, profoundly emphasize moving away from the current heavy input agricultural system to more eco-friendly and balanced farming. Eco Agriculture or Agro Ecology is capable of producing enough food in a sustainable manner… without harming the environment. It incorporates the term ‘Organic Farming’ which is often conveyed as a production and marketing model and offers all inclusive elements to manage the agro system. Eco Agriculture is therefore being recognized as the most critical and essential desideratum for an environment friendly future.

Fortunately, our awareness and knowledge for this urgency has escalated during the last few decades. Almost all world forums are instigating and encouraging the transformation of theories from the laboratories to actual practices and demonstrated applications. In accordance, ICFA visualizes this Working Group to play a vital role in drafting a road map and action plan for ushering in the impending ‘Ever Green’ - Eco Agriculture Revolution in a sustainable manner.

Padma Shree Dr MH Mehta Chairman The Science Ashram

Mr JS Khorakiwala Managing Director Biostadt India

Dr Krishan Chandra Director NCOF

Members

Dr Chandrashekhar Biradar, PhD, Principal Scientist (Agro-Ecosystems), Head-Geoinformatics Unit
Mr Sumit Gupta, Representative India, Global Organic Textile Standard
Dr Nutan Kaushik, Senior Fellow & Convener, Plant Biotech & Sustainable Agri, TERI
Mr Rajesh Umatt, COO, Gujarat Life Sciences
Ms Rutaksha Rawat, Editor, Pure & Eco India
Dr H Purushotham, CMD, National Research Development Corporation
Mr Ami Lal Meena, Co-Founder & Director, Grow Well Organic & Eco Products
Dr Ajay Ranka, Managing Director, Zydex Industries
Dr PPS Pangli, President, Borlaug Farmers Association
Mr Shyam Khadka, India Representative, Food and Agriculture Organization FAO
Mr Harendra Rana, Organic Farming Expert, NCOF
Ms Poornima Savargaonkar, Author – Natueco Farming, NGO - Organic Farming
Mr Soumendu Ghosh, Country Head, Acadian Plant Health
Fr. Jilson James, Joint Director, PDS Organic Spices
Dr Ashok Patel, Vice Chancellor, SD Agricultural University
Mr Dhananjay Edakhe, Chief Executive Officer, Zytex Biotech
Dr PVSM Gouri, Vice President Organics, RoundGlass Partners
Mr RK Mehta, Chairman - AP & Telangana, Bamboo Society of India
Mr Krishan Guptaa, Managing Director, Organic Wellness
Dr DK Mishra, GM - Tech and Devt , International Panaacea
Mr Saurabh Singhal, Managing Director, Biotech International
Mr Indranil Das, Vice President, Asia , Agrinos India
Dr Phalguni Das Biswas, Founder Director, Inhana Organic Research Fdn
Mr Ajay Katyal , Director & CEO, Nature Pearls Pvt Ltd
Mr Saurabh Garg, CEO, Aryan International
Mr Arun Kumar Singh, Founder & CEO, Armon International
Ms Zareen Myles, Executive Director, Women’s Action for Development (WAFD)
Dr Ashok C Shah, Organic Farming Expert, Advisor to Mr Narendra Modi
Sh Bharat Bhushan Tyagi, CEO, Chetna Vikas Swarajya Trust
Dr Shatadru Chattopadhayay, Managing Director, Solidaridad Network
Mr Mahesh G Shetty, VP Indian Micronutrient Manufac Assn, Multiplex Group - MD
Mr Seelam Rajshekhar Reddy, Managing Director, Sresta Natural Bioproducts
Mr Sandeep Bhargava, CEO, OneCert International
Dr Sumant Chaubey, Managing Director, 3B Biotech
Mr Marco Rosso , Global Corporate Affairs Director, Valagro
Mr Roger Tripathi, President, Acadian Plant Health
Mr Bipin Bihari, CEO, Agrigenome Limited
Mr RD Kapoor, Mayank Singhal MD, PI Industries
Mr Sourabh Agarwal, Managing Director, Stevia Biotech
Dr Sujata Goel, President, Organic Farming Association of India
Dr Alok Sikka, Former DDG – NRM, ICAR
Dr N Parasuraman, Scientist, MSSRF
Dr Vineet Malaviya, VP & Founder Director, Reliance Fresh
Mr Rajesh Shetty, Organic Farming Expert, Green Organics
Mr Sanjay Aggarwal, Managing Director, Clover Organic
Dr KB Kathiria, Director of Research, Anand Agricultural University
Dr Reema Nanavaty, Director SEWA, Self Employed Women’s Association
Mr Abhinandan Dhoke, CEO, Organic India
Dr RJ Rabindra , Director, Directorate of Biological Control
Mr Lalatendu P Deo, Managing Director, Koraput Organic
Dr Rajendra Poddar, Head PPMC, VC Office, University of Agricultural Sciences
Mr Anil Kakodkar, President, National Academy of Sciences
Mr Shekhar Bhadsavle , Owner, Saguna Baug
Mr RP Singh, Executive Secretary, Indian Agricultural Universities Association
Dr Dilip Dhaker, Managing Director, Biocert International

Objectives

To organize workshops, seminars, policy dialogues on challenges and opportunities for growth and development of Eco Agriculture and Bio Products.
Follow up on actionable reforms and recommendations including those from earlier important reports with the concerned Ministries and National / International agencies.
To collate and document potential areas in the states for future investments and product development based on regional comparative advantages.
To provide a platform for international collaborations and consultancy services to the developing countries and undertake action research and documentation of best model for furthering developmental reforms.
To bring out occasional papers on innovative strategies based on action research, and present them to the nodal agencies and departments in Government of India / States.
To facilitate international partnerships and provide a platform for various national and international corporates to share their success stories and experiences and provide expert consultancies for good agriculture practices.
To strengthen the network for developing infrastructure and skill, mobilization of investments, technologies and promoting agro trade.
To promote public private sector partnerships and facilitate entrepreneurships development at all levels for comprehensive growth of Eco Agriculture.

Opportunities

A huge potential to bring in Eco Agri Revolution which is capable of producing enough food and accessible food without harming the environment.
Playing a key role in COP – 22 requirement.
New opportunity for a large number of R & D based agri bio industries – creation of appropriate infrastructure and a large number of enterprises all over the country.
Eco Village - Clean Village using farm agro waste to high value Bio Composts for improving soil health and water security.
Sustainable and thriving agriculture for the coming years. Playing a key role for hunger free and sustainable farming for the developing world… especially Asia and Africa.

Challenges

Developing and producing the range of eco-friendly agri bio inputs which are cost effective and eco-friendly.
Setting up a cluster of new generation, agri bio inputs companies / co-operatives.
Farm demonstrations under different agro climatic conditions.
Creating large scale awareness and reaching out to smallest farmers.
Quality standardization and uniformity and market link ups.
Creating a model for Eco Agri Revolution.