Solena reposted this
On the 14th of August, 2024, during the agri-business focused event that was jointly organized by ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM)- ICAR- Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and NABARD - National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, the Investor Talk titled "Agro-Innovation Economy: Current Landscape and Emerging Frontiers," led by Abhi M., a US based Venture Capitalist, emphasized that in assessing #global, #agtech developments, it is crucial to ensure that #innovations provide tangible #benefits for both the #people and the #planet. The pressing challenges of #waterscarcity, #soildegradation, and #foodinsecurity demand a holistic approach that integrates advanced technologies with #sustainableagriculture practices. #Agriculture, which accounts for almost 70% of global #freshwater consumption, must evolve by not just focusing on #waterpurification methods, but adopting more effective #waterirrigation strategies. The degradation of #topsoil, exacerbated by the overuse of #fertilizers and #pesticides, poses a significant threat to global food security. With 24 billion tons of topsoil lost annually, the urgent need for #regenerativefarming techniques is evident. Innovative solutions, such as those from Mexico-based Solena and California-based AgShift, are leading the way. Solena's AI-driven platform analyzes soil microbiome to prescribe bio-inoculants with precise nutrients, thereby minimizing fertilizer use and promoting responsible agriculture. On the other hand, AgShift is the first company to apply deep learning to revolutionize food quality inspection process which helps in reducing food wastage and ensuring consistent standards. The intersection of #food, #water, #soil, #weather, and #farmer empowerment forms the cornerstone of a self-sustaining agro-innovation economy. #Technology must not only mitigate environmental impacts but also empower farmers to adapt and thrive in the face of #climatechange. As #India emerges as a #global #leader, it has a #unique #responsibility to guide these efforts by leveraging its rich #heritage and #culture of #innovation. By focusing on sustainable agriculture and cutting-edge technology applications, #India has the potential to lead the world in addressing these #critical #challenges. The time to act is now, not just for Bharat but for the entire #planet! The #future depends on it! Inc42 Media, YourStory Media, Forbes Department of Science & Technology, Government of India Shailesh Shukla, PhD, Ex-ARS Ragul Paramasivam [He/Him/His] PhDThe Economic Times The Times Of India Chaitanya Magar Ph.D. Biotechnology Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India Ministry Of Food Processing Industries, Government Of India Ministry Of Corporate Affairs, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India FICCI, State Bank of India, Hindustan Times, Business Standard CNBC-TV18