Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR), has recently shared an important message about the upcoming G20 Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) to be held in Varanasi on 17-19 April. In this meeting, experts from the agriculture industry will discuss science-based solutions for sustainable and profitable agri-food systems.
As we know, Indian agriculture is the foundation of the country’s civilization, culture, and heritage. Over the last 75 years, India has made tremendous progress in agriculture, from a ship-to-mouth situation to becoming self-sufficient and even a food exporting nation. The country has undergone several agri-revolutions, including Green, White, Blue, Yellow, Golden, Silver, Brown, Grey, and Rainbow, which have transformed Indian agriculture. These revolutions have led to a 6 to 70 times increase in food production since 1950, with only a 1.3 times increase in the net cultivated area.
The 12th MACS meeting under India’s Presidency will focus on the theme of Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems for Healthy People and Planet. The meeting will cover four priority areas for focused discussions:
- Food Security and Nutrition: The Role of Frontiers in Science and Technology
- Building Resilience and Sustainable Agriculture through Approaches of Climate Resilient Agriculture and One Health
- Digitalization for Agricultural Transformation
- Public-Private Partnerships for Research and Development
The meeting will feature the MAHARISHI Initiative on Millets And Other Ancient Grains, which is an international research initiative that will focus on agro-biodiversity, food security, and nutrition. This initiative aligns with the International Year of Millets 2023 and aims to create awareness of the nutritional value and importance of millets and other ancient grains.
The G20 countries will explore options to come together and share science-based technological and innovative solutions in the four priority areas discussed in the meeting. The MACS meeting will provide new opportunities for collaboration in research, education, and extension in the field of agriculture, and strengthen the G20 forum for international economic cooperation.
In conclusion, the G20 MACS Meeting in Varanasi is an important event that will promote joint action towards achieving sustainable and resilient agri-food systems. It will provide a platform for experts in the agriculture industry to discuss and exchange knowledge, science, and technologies. We hope that the event will be a success and will lead to new initiatives towards sustainable agriculture and food systems for healthy people and planet.
