What's Happening?
On August 6, 2025, a virtual conference was held, bringing together over 56 countries from the Global South to discuss agricultural resilience. The event, hosted by the ICRISAT Centre of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture and DAKSHIN, aimed to share solutions for challenges such as climate stress, soil degradation, market volatility, and food insecurity. Key figures like Professor Sachin Chaturvedi and Dr. Himanshu Pathak emphasized the importance of indigenous knowledge and homegrown technologies. The conference highlighted the ISSCA Knowledge Portal, featuring over 85 scalable innovations, and focused on strategic dialogues for regional technology needs and policy alignment.
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Why It's Important?
This collaboration among Global South nations is crucial for addressing shared agricultural challenges. By leveraging indigenous knowledge and technologies, these countries can develop tailored solutions that are more effective than imported ones. The initiative promotes South-South cooperation, which can lead to sustainable agricultural practices and improved food security. The endorsement of ISSCA as a neutral platform for innovation amplifies Southern-led solutions, potentially transforming local successes into global progress. This approach can enhance resilience against climate change and economic pressures, benefiting millions of farmers and communities.
What's Next?
Following the conference, ISSCA plans to pilot South-South collaborations across various agroecological zones. There is interest from additional countries to join ISSCA’s regional hubs in Africa and Latin America. The outcomes of the conference will be carried into upcoming policy forums, with ISSCA continuing to enhance its knowledge portal based on stakeholder demand. This ongoing effort aims to connect innovation with impact, fostering agricultural resilience and sustainable development across the Global South.
Beyond the Headlines
The conference underscores the ethical dimension of agricultural development, emphasizing the need for co-owned and co-developed solutions. It challenges the traditional one-size-fits-all approach, advocating for tailored strategies that respect local contexts and empower communities. This shift could lead to long-term changes in how agricultural policies are formulated and implemented, promoting inclusivity and equity in global food systems.
