ICRISAT’s project sites in #UttarPradesh continue to attract government and research delegations for learning and knowledge exchange on water conservation, watershed development and landscape restoration. In October 2026, Mr Rameshwar Sudhakar Sabbanwad, Chief Development Officer (CDO), visited the Jhansi site, while Mr VK Singh, IAS, CDO, visited the Parmapur watershed project to learn about groundwater recharge measures and scientific monitoring using DIVER and Automatic Weather Stations (AWS). Dr Anil Kumar Singh, former Deputy Director General – Natural Resource Management, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (@icarindia), visited landscape restoration sites in Tahrauli and Lalitpur. ICRISAT teams briefed the delegations on project interventions and community participation, highlighting how integrated watershed management can improve water availability, restore landscapes and strengthen agricultural resilience. Government of UP (@UPGovt) Ramesh Singh | Kaushal Garg | Ashok Shukla | RK Uttam | Anand Kumar | Nandu Talmpure | Vishal Singh | Aayush Saini | Shikhar Srivastava | Sunil Kumar Singh | Gaurav Mishra | Sunil Niranjan | Lalit Kishor | Satyendra Singh Rana | Shailendra Soni

ICRISAT at the National Symposium on “Next-Generation Plant Health Strategies for Climate Resilience, Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture” and the Northern Zonal Meeting of the Indian Phytopathological Society, held on 22–23 October 2026 at ICAR–Central Potato Research Institute (@cpri_icar), Bemloi, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. The symposium was jointly organized by the Indian Potato Association (@IpaShimlahp), Indian Society of Plant Pathologists, Himalayan Phytopathological Society and ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute Regional Station, Shimla. Dr Mamta Sharma (@MamtaSharma_1), Principal Scientist – Precision Phenotyping, ICRISAT, delivered a talk on “Climate Change and Emerging Plant Diseases: From Precision Phenotyping to Climate-Resilient Crop Protection.” She highlighted the importance of innovation, preparedness and emerging technologies in accelerating crop improvement and strengthening plant health management. Dr Sharma also co-chaired a plenary session on regenerative agriculture, genome editing for disease-resilient crops and digital agriculture for sustainable crop protection.

#News #PressRelease Today, at the curtain-raiser event held at the NASC Complex in New Delhi, @CGIAR and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (@icarindia) announced that New Delhi will host the CGIAR Science and Partnership Week from 12–17 April 2027. The event is being jointly organized by ICAR, under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, and CGIAR, with ICRISAT as the host. Joining the event, ICRISAT Director General Dr Himanshu Pathak (@HPathakOfficial) stated, "Through CGIAR Science and Partnership Week 2027, we aim to showcase India's agricultural achievements, share our innovations with the world and learn from global advancements to co-create solutions for the emerging challenges of agriculture and food systems." Read the press release: pressroom.icrisat.org/india-…

ICRISAT at Africa Science & Innovation Forum! Tulu Degefu a chickpea breeder at ICRISAT talks about the institutes role in advancing food security to EBS news in Ethiopia piped.video/Ulg9Ky4yZ8I?si=kB5u…

🇮🇳 India is set to host the CGIAR Science and Partnership Week at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, from April 12 to 17 next year. The event will bring together scientists, innovators and global partners to explore collaborative solutions to key challenges in food production, land management and water systems. A special exhibition will also be organised as part of the programme, with Ministers from 15 to 20 countries expected to participate. #CGIARScienceWeek | #CGIAR | @ICRISAT | @icarindia | @airnewsalerts

Collector & District Magistrate, Anugola, visited the Millet-Based Processing Unit and reviewed the ongoing development works. The BDO, Chhendipada, was directed to expedite the work and ensure timely completion. @CMO_Odisha @IPR_Odisha

Can science make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people who feed the world? For Dr Stanford Blade (@DrStanfordBlade), Deputy Director General – Research and Innovation at ICRISAT, the answer has always been found in the field. From growing up on a dairy farm in Canada to his early research on cowpea at IITA in Nigeria, working alongside smallholder farmers across West Africa and eventually bringing his wealth of experience to India, Dr Blade’s journey spans nearly four decades of agricultural science and leadership. In this insightful feature by @IITA_CGIAR, Dr Blade reflects on the people, experiences and field-level lessons that shaped his career, the lasting impact of agricultural research, and why the future of science must look beyond individual crops to the entire food system. Discover the journey and the lessons that continue to shape his vision for agricultural research. Read the full story: iita.org/news-item/what-farm…

#News New Research Identifies Promising Crops to Strengthen Saudi Arabia’s Food and Feed Security ICRISAT–FAO partnership identifies sorghum and pearl millet candidates that can boost both food grain and livestock fodder production in Saudi Arabia’s dryland farming systems. Read more - pressroom.icrisat.org/new-re…

Join us in congratulating this cohort of ICRISAT staff on successfully completing the #iSKILL capability-building program, organized by ICRISAT’s People and Culture team under the #iLearn framework. The training focused on strengthening essential workplace competencies, including communication, collaboration, ethics, accountability and a growth mindset. Dr Raman Babu and Dr Ramesh Singh (@ICRISATRamesh), Research Program Directors at ICRISAT, presented certificates to the participants upon successful completion of the program. The initiative reinforces ICRISAT’s commitment to continuous learning and professional development, empowering staff with the skills, confidence and mindset to contribute effectively to the Institute’s mission.

ICRISAT’s Genebank conducted a two-day Seed Physiology training on 6–7 October 2026 for 15 staff members, including Scientific Officers and Field Technicians, with colleagues from Niamey joining virtually. The training covered seed development and maturation, seed viability and longevity, and practical techniques for seed germination and dormancy breaking. Dr Sherry Rachel Jacob (@DrSherryrachel), ICAR–National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (@INbpgr), New Delhi, and Dr Ovais Peerzada, Manager – Genebank Seed Lab, ICRISAT, led sessions to strengthen technical skills in seed quality management and conservation of crop genetic resources. Participants also visited the International Seed Testing Association (@ISTAseedtesting), an accredited laboratory of the Telangana State Seed and Organic Certification Authority (TGSOCA) in Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, for practical exposure to seed testing and quality assessment.

Shape the future of dryland agriculture. Build a career with impact. At ICRISAT, science meets purpose. Join a team working to transform dryland agriculture, strengthen food and nutrition security, and improve the livelihoods of farming communities. Explore our openings and find your place at ICRISAT - lnkd.in/gK4Yz9Sh Know someone whose expertise aligns with these opportunities? Feel free to tag them in the comments and share this post with them.

ICRISAT at #ESTIC2026! At #ESTIC2026, ICRISAT Research Program Director - ACI, Dr Raman Babu shared a vision for accelerating crop improvement through five key capabilities: DIGITAL, DOUBLE, EDIT, PREDICT and SCALE. Watch the session: piped.video/XA2d7dBtvFY?t=3282 Speaking under the theme Agri-Tech, Food Systems and Nutrition, alongside CGIAR Executive Managing Director Dr Ismahane Elouafi, he highlighted how deep technologies can strengthen crop breeding and translate scientific advances into tangible benefits for smallholder farmers. He also proposed transforming selected Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) into deep-tech agri-testbeds, where improved crop varieties, agronomic practices and digital tools can be evaluated together under real-world smallholder conditions before wider deployment. His central message was clear: every agricultural technology and research investment must deliver meaningful outcomes for farmers—more income per acre, more value per drop and more stable returns.

"The focus areas include advanced genomic technologies, artificial intelligence, precision phenotyping and climate-resilient breeding," states Himanshu Pathak (@HPathakOfficial), director general, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (#ICRISAT), in his address at the Foundation Day of the ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute (@icarsbi)

At #ESTIC2026, Dr Raman Babu, Global Research Project Director, ICRISAT, highlighted five technological priorities—from advanced breeding to digital innovation—to accelerate agricultural transformation and deliver greater income and resilience for farmers. #ICAR @ChouhanShivraj

Registrations Now Open! The Policy AI Launch & Showcase, jointly organized by the CGIAR Digital Transformation Accelerator (@CGIAR_Data) and CGIAR Policy Innovations (@CGIARPolicy) and hosted by the International Affairs Office in the UAE, will take place on 5–6 November 2026 at New York University Abu Dhabi (@NYUAbuDhabi), UAE. The event will introduce Policy AI, an AI-powered platform that connects data and economic models to support faster, clearer and more evidence-based decisions on food, land and water policies. Through live demonstrations of RIAPA AI, presentations on emerging Policy AI tools and interactive discussions, participants will explore how these technologies can support policy decision-making, share ideas, provide feedback and identify opportunities for collaboration to shape the platform's future development. Event Details 📅 Dates: 5–6 November 2026 📍 Venue: New York University Abu Dhabi, UAE 💻 Format: Hybrid (in person and online) Register here: events.cgiar.org/policyailau… @CGIAR

ICRISAT participated in the Roundtable Conference on “Pulse Protein Innovation, Value Addition and Strategic Partnership,” held on 13 October 2026 at the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli (@NiftemHaryana), Haryana, India. Dr Dinesh Chauhan (@dkchauhan), Head – Agribusiness Innovation and Nutrition (AIN) Platform, ICRISAT, joined discussions on potential collaboration with partners in Saskatchewan, Canada, and opportunities to strengthen value chains connecting smallholder farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) with processors and markets. The discussions also highlighted the potential of pulses and climate-smart crops such as millets to provide affordable, nutritious protein and support agricultural innovation. University of Saskatchewan (@usask), Pulse Canada (@pulsecanada), Nutrition International (@NutritionIntl), India Pulses and Grains Association (@IPGAPulses)

ICRISAT at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (#CBDCOP17), being held from 19–30 October 2026 in Yerevan, #Armenia. The event convened key partners, stakeholders, and funders to discuss vital issues around biodiversity conservation and the significance of crop genetic diversity in dryland agriculture. Representing ICRISAT, Dr Stanford Blade (@DrStanfordBlade), Deputy Director General – Research and Innovation, and Dr Falalou Hamidou, Senior Scientist – Regional Genebank and Country Representative of Niger, attended the session “Scaling up capacity sharing to bridge the DSI divide,” focusing on access to digital sequence information (#DSI) and capacity building. They also highlighted the role of ICRISAT’s Genebank in conserving crop genetic diversity for research and crop improvement. A key highlight was the inclusion of ICRISAT’s 2025 DSI training course, conducted under the CGIAR Genebanks Accelerator, in CGIAR’s presentation at the conference. COP17 Armenia (@COP17_Arm2026) | Government of the Republic of Armenia (@armgov) | United Nations Biodiversity (@UNBiodiversity) | UN Environment Programme (@UNEP) | International Union for Conservation of Nature (@IUCN) | United Nations Development Programme (@UNDP). CGIAR (@CGIAR) | CGIAR Genebanks | CGIAR Breeding for Tomorrow (@CGIARbreeding).

ICRISAT at the Africa Science & Innovation Forum (ASIF) 2026 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ICRISAT is joining scientists, policymakers, agricultural researchers, development partners and innovators at the Africa Science & Innovation Forum (ASIF) 2026, taking place from 27–29 October 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The forum aligns with ICRISAT's commitment to transforming dryland agrifood systems through science-led solutions, climate-resilient crops and sustainable farming practices. Key discussions at ASIF 2026 focus on scaling agricultural innovations, strengthening research and extension systems, advancing digital agriculture, reducing food loss, promoting agro-industrialisation and mobilising investment to move proven solutions from research to wider adoption. As Africa seeks to build food-secure and climate-resilient communities, collaboration between research institutions, governments, farmers and the private sector remains essential to translating scientific breakthroughs into tangible impact. ICRISAT looks forward to engaging partners and contributing to conversations that advance agricultural innovation, resilient food systems and sustainable livelihoods across Africa. 📍 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 📅 27–29 October 2026 #ICRISAT #ASIF2026 #AgriculturalInnovation #FoodSecurity #ClimateResilience #AgrifoodSystems #ScienceForDevelopment #CGIAR

Join ICRISAT. Help build a more resilient future for the world’s semi-arid tropics. For over 50 years, ICRISAT has worked alongside smallholder farmers in the semi-arid tropics, turning science into better harvests, stronger incomes, and healthier communities. We’re growing and looking for people who want their work to matter. Now hiring across leadership, research, and program roles: Head - Genebank Head of ICRISAT's Dryland Academy Manager - Seed Systems & Delivery Research Scientist - Product Management Manager - Program Portfolio Scientist – Innovation Systems Manager - Seed Systems Development Associate Manager - Grants Associate Scientist - Data Analytics Senior Scientific Officer-Pigeonpea Breeding Senior Scientific Officer - Regenerative Agriculture Scientific Officer-Natural Resource Management Scientific Officer - System Agronomy Scientific Officer - Regenerative Agri-Technology …and more openings on our careers page. If you’re driven by science, impact, and the chance to uplift dryland communities, we’d love to hear from you. Explore roles and apply: lnkd.in/gK4Yz9Sh Know someone who’d be a great fit? Tag them or share this post.

ICRISAT, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (@icarindia), organized a four-day international training program on “Agro-ecological/Landscape-based Natural Resource Management” from 12–15 October 2026 in Kano, #Nigeria. During the inaugural session, ICRISAT experts highlighted landscape management, water conservation and integrated crop–livestock systems for strengthening smallholder livelihoods, alongside South–South cooperation, knowledge sharing and capacity building through ICRISAT’s Dryland Academy. Under the CGIAR Capacity Sharing Accelerator and Multifunctional Landscape Science Program (@CGIARenviro), the training covered soil and water conservation, integrated crop–livestock systems, agroforestry, climate resilience and digital decision-support tools, complemented by a field visit to the Tofa watershed. During the valedictory session, Dr Himanshu Pathak (@HPathakOfficial), Director General, ICRISAT, emphasized drought-resilient communities and continued collaboration. Dr Stanford Blade (@DrStanfordBlade), Deputy Director General – Research and Innovation, ICRISAT, and Mr Sanjay Agarwal, Additional Director General, ICRISAT, also attended. Dr Ramesh Singh (@ICRISATRamesh), Global Research Program Director – Resilient Farming Systems, ICRISAT, highlighted opportunities for an integrated benchmark landscape. The program concluded with plans for ICRISAT to provide technical guidance for a benchmark demonstration site in northern Nigeria, explore opportunities for scaling up and support researcher and student exchanges. Victor Afari-Sefa (@SefaAfari) | Kumara Charyulu | Padmaja Ravula | Sougrynoma Zainatou Sore | RS Yadav | RM Singh | KA Gopinath and JP Tetarwal | Prof. Jibrin | Aviraj Datta | Nagarjuna Reddy