India secures leadership role as BRICS sets ambitious agenda for agricultural innovation
India has been chosen to lead critical BRICS initiatives on seed rights and digital agriculture, following the adoption of the Indore Declaration. The agreement marks a strategic push for sustainable and technology-driven farming across the BRICS bloc.
Agriculture is witnessing a global transformation and, at the centre of this change, India has been tapped to lead a series of bold initiatives aimed at securing food futures for nearly half the world’s population. The BRICS bloc, which now includes eleven nations, concluded a landmark meeting by adopting the Indore Declaration—an agreement that sets a sweeping agenda for collaboration in the agricultural sector, with India at the helm of several forward-looking projects.BRICS aligns on food security and sustainable farmingShivraj Singh Chouhan, speaking at the summit, emphasised the shared resolve of BRICS to address food security through innovation and partnership. The minister highlighted that the bloc’s countries collectively account for about 42 per cent of global agricultural land and foodgrain production, making their cooperation critical for global stability.India to coordinate global seed rights forum and digital agricultureDigital transformation and climate resilience take centre stageIndian Institute of Farming Systems Research, operating under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), has been tasked with initial coordination. This effort seeks to foster farming practices that restore ecosystems and build resilience to extreme weather, a priority for nations facing mounting environmental pressures.Progress on grain exchange and research platformsIndia’s pivotal role and the expanding BRICS blocBrazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia. This enlargement brings together countries that collectively represent almost half of the world’s population, amplifying the potential impact of the Indore Declaration’s initiatives.Implications for India and global agricultureLooking ahead: global leadership and food system transformation