ICAR chief calls for reimagining agricultural education to tackle global challenges

New Delhi, October 22, 2026: Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), has urged a rethink of agricultural higher education to equip future professionals for challenges such as climate change, resource degradation, biodiversity loss and rising demand for nutritious food.

Speaking virtually at a roundtable on the sidelines of the 2026 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, organised by the World Food Prize Foundation in Des Moines, US, Dr. Jat addressed the gathering as President of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), India. The Academy was represented at the event by Secretary Dr. B.S. Dwivedi, Foreign Secretary Dr. Karim Meredia and Dr. P.V. Varaprasad, Convener of its International Chapter for the Western Hemisphere.

Dr. Jat called for moving beyond production-centric farming to an integrated agri-food systems and value-chain approach. He stressed closer academia-industry collaboration to produce industry-ready professionals and enable industry participation across the value chain, including support for farmers.

He highlighted the role of NAAS policy dialogues, papers and briefs in bringing together researchers, policymakers, institutions and industry, and spoke of efforts to connect the Indian agricultural diaspora with domestic research and educational institutions to foster knowledge exchange.

Dr. Jat also pointed to a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), which is expected to open new avenues for cooperation in research, capacity development and knowledge exchange.

Expressing confidence that stronger global partnerships will advance agricultural research, education and extension, particularly for the Global South, he urged collective efforts to build resilient and sustainable agri-food systems worldwide.