The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has highlighted its research priorities and technological innovations in sustainable agriculture, food systems and nutrition ahead of the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2026.
During a curtain-raiser and media interaction at ICAR–Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), Karnal, Haryana, Dr M L Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General, ICAR, outlined the Council’s contributions to the thematic area of ‘Agri-Tech, Food Systems and Nutrition’.
Scheduled from October 27 to 29, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, ESTIC 2026 will bring together government departments, research institutions, startups and other stakeholders to showcase scientific advances across 12 thematic areas. The exhibition will feature 13 departmental stalls, 50 deep-tech startups and 10 departmental technologies, providing a platform to promote scientific collaboration and translate research into practical applications.
Highlighting ICAR’s research priorities, Dr Jat emphasised the need for coordination across government departments and the effective transfer of scientific innovations from laboratories to farms. Key focus areas include genome editing, biofortified crop varieties, climate-resilient agriculture, integrated pest management, horticultural diversification, livestock health, fisheries, natural resource management and agricultural mechanisation.
Among the major scientific developments to be showcased are the world’s first two genome-edited rice varieties and India’s first telomere-to-telomere reference genome of pigeonpea. These advances in crop genetics and precision breeding are expected to support research into improved crop traits, productivity and climate resilience.
ICAR’s research portfolio also covers animal health and livestock improvement, including vaccine development, livestock genomics and the conservation of indigenous breeds. The exhibition will highlight research on African swine fever and lumpy skin disease, with the technical details and efficacy claims relating to the ASF vaccine to be verified against the official presentation.
In the area of digital agriculture, the ‘Soil Intelligence: AI and Pedological Science’ initiative will demonstrate how artificial intelligence and soil science can support soil-resource assessment and data-driven agricultural management. Such technologies can help improve resource-use efficiency and inform decisions on sustainable farming practices.
Crop science and horticulture will be another focus, with ICAR highlighting improved crop varieties, nutritional quality, advanced breeding technologies and diversified farming systems. Dr Jat noted that the Council had developed 117 horticultural crop varieties during the previous year. Research on biofortified crops is also aimed at improving nutritional outcomes while supporting sustainable food production.
Natural resource management initiatives will address soil health, water management and climate resilience. ICAR is also exploring green ammonia production using hydrogen generated through solar energy as a potential pathway towards more sustainable fertiliser production. Demonstrations covering 10,000 acres across six states were highlighted during the interaction, involving ICAR, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and other stakeholders.
Research in fisheries and aquaculture includes shrimp farming in saline areas to improve the productive use of underutilised land and water resources. Agricultural engineering initiatives, including cotton-harvesting machinery, are aimed at improving operational efficiency and addressing labour constraints in farming.
The Council also highlighted SEHAT (Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation), a joint initiative of ICAR and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The programme seeks to strengthen the links between agriculture, food and human health through interventions such as biofortified crops and integrated farming systems. In dairy technology, ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) has developed a rapid on-site kit to detect potential milk adulteration.
The technical session on ‘Agri-Tech, Food Systems and Nutrition’ at ESTIC 2026 will bring together experts to discuss agricultural innovation, food systems and nutritional security. The programme lists Dr Ismahane Elouafi as the keynote speaker, with Dr Ashwani Pareek and Prof Peeyush Soni among the speakers. The panel discussion will feature Dr T R Sharma, Niima, Dr Rabi N Sahu, Dr Firoz Hossain, Dr Bhagirath Chaudhary and Dr Kutubuddin Molla.
Earlier, welcoming participants at the curtain-raiser, the Director of ICAR-CSSRI highlighted the institute’s research on the characterisation and reclamation of salt-affected soils, the management of poor-quality water and the development of salt-tolerant crop varieties.
The interaction underscored ICAR’s role in advancing agricultural technologies, strengthening food and nutritional security, improving farmer prosperity and promoting sustainable agricultural development.