National symposium on hybrid technology for enhancing crop productivity
This three day event aims to address the pressing challenges of global food insecurity exacerbated by climate change, economic inequality, and geopolitical conflicts
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The Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), jointly with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and leading CGIAR institutes—International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), India; International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Mexico; International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines; and the Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources (ISPGR)—is organizing a National Symposium on Hybrid Technology for Enhancing Crop Productivity (NHST) from January 8–10, 2025, at Pusa Campus, New Delhi. This 3-day event aims to address the pressing challenges of global food insecurity exacerbated by climate change, economic inequality, and geopolitical conflicts.
Dr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, will inaugurate the symposium. Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary, DARE, and Director General, ICAR, and Dr. T. Mohapatra, Chairperson of PPV&FRA and Vice Chairman of TAAS, will be the Guests of Honour. Padma Bhushan awardee Dr R.S. Paroda, Chairman of TAAS, will preside.
With the global population projected to reach 8.55 billion by 2030, the demand for food and nutritional security is more critical than ever. The symposium will bring together approximately 300 stakeholders, including researchers, policymakers, representatives from both the public and private sectors, young scientists, and students, to discuss the prospects and strategies for scaling hybrid technology in crops such as rice, maize, cotton, pearl millet, sorghum, sunflower, pigeon pea, castor, and selected vegetable crops. The objectives of the symposium are:
- To assess the current status of hybrid research across various crops.
- To identify scientific and policy constraints hindering the scaling of hybrid breeding and seed production.
- To foster stronger public-private partnerships for promoting hybrid breeding initiatives.
- To develop actionable strategies for accelerating the adoption of hybrid technology on a national scale.
The symposium will feature eminent speakers from national and international agricultural R&D organizations and the industry, who will share their insights on hybrid technology's potential to significantly increase crop productivity. This event will serve as a neutral platform for collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore innovative ways to scale hybrid technology for productivity gains.
The symposium is being supported by the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII), Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company (MAHYCO), Bayer Crop Science Limited, Rasi Seeds, the National Seed Association of India (NSAI), and others.
