TERI School of Advanced Studies is going to organise a two-day international workshop on Strengthening International Agribusiness Trade in collaboration with Global Centre for Land-Based Innovation- Western Sydney University, National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM) and National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) during November 14–15 in New Delhi.
The objectives of the workshop are to prioritise action plan for strengthening international agribusiness trade from emerging countries to developed countries, and to initiate stakeholder dialogue and facilitate stakeholder partnerships between actors of food supply chains from developing and developed countries.
The major themes of the discussions are increasing farm productivity through resource efficient techniques and practices; fostering academia-industry-government partnerships for excellence in higher agricultural education; doubling farmers Income: technologies, business models and sustainable livelihoods; building sustainable agri-food supply chains; climate change, food and nutrition security; and India-Australia agribusiness trade.
According to the organisers, the workshop has active support from organisations like ICAR, Tata Trusts, Tata Cornell Institute for Agriculture, UN Global Compact, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, RMIT University Australia, DEAKIN University Australia, HAI, Australia’s Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade, FICCI and CII. The workshop will witness keynote speakers / experts from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Bank, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and many other national and international universities and corporations. Around 300 delegates from India and abroad are expected to participate, which would include scientists, researchers, exporters, diplomats, policy-makers farmers, students deliberating on these significant issues.
As part of Day 2, TERI SAS will organise a special session on Indo-Australian Agribusiness Trade in which delegations from Department of Foreign Trade, Australia, AIBC (Australia India Business Council), CEOs of agribusiness companies, trade specialists, scientists, exporters, industry organisations, farmer interest groups will participate. The objective of this meet is to promote bilateral trade in agribusiness to maximise the potential of academic communities to analyse and inform policy and resourcing mechanisms as well as strengthen partnerships for trade between these countries.
Looking forward to the colloquium, Dr Sapna A Narula, HoD and Associate Professor, Department of Business and Sustainability at TERI SAS said, “India achieved self-sufficiency in food long back, yet goals related to strengthening international trade in agriculture, enhancing income of farmers and ensuring access to quality and safe food to both domestic and international consumers remain to be achieved. Given the significance of small and big agribusinesses in India and other South Asian economies, such a multi-stakeholder platform is extremely important to discuss the constraints and challenges being faced by farming communities.”
“This international workshop will see a galaxy of eminent academicians, corporations, small and progressive farmers, policymakers coming together and discuss pertinent issues in context of Sustainable Development Goals. I personally believe that the problems which our farmers are facing right now such as climate change, disasters, post-harvest losses, market access could find solutions by strengthening dialogue amongst these stakeholders. What our farmers need are access to global markets alongside best technology, service and policy solutions in order to reap best benefit of these markets. One of the highlights of the conference would be to discuss avenues which could enhance income for farmers especially women,” Narula added.
Prof Brajesh Singh, Director, Global Centre for Land-based Innovation of Western Sydney University, said, “Western Sydney University especially our Global Centre is glad to join hands with TERI School of Advanced Studies along with other industry partners. As one of the key components of the workshop is a high-level roundtable meeting on improving Australia and India agribusiness and trade; we really look forward to a strategic partnership between India and Australia for strengthening bilateral agribusiness trade.”
“Minister Simon Birmingham, Minister for Trade and Tourism and Andrew Gee, Asst Minister in Deputy Prime Minister office, will address the roundtable meeting demonstrating the commitment of Australia to further strengthen bilateral relation with India,” added Prof Singh.
The roundtable meeting aims to identify priority areas of bilateral trade and research in agriculture sector and will recommend actionable steps in time bound fashion.
