ICRISAT and IFPRI Launch CGIAR India Policy Innovation Hub to Strengthen Evidence-Based Policymaking

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in partnership with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), has launched the CGIAR India Policy Innovation Hub, a co-creation platform aimed at strengthening evidence-led policymaking to transform India’s food systems.

The initiative is part of CGIAR’s global Policy Innovations programme and seeks to bridge the gap between scientific research and policy decisions. It will connect research institutions such as ICRISAT and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research with national policy priorities.

The launch took place during the policy dialogue on “Evidence-Led Food Systems Transformation Policies in the Context of Viksit Bharat,” held at the NASC Complex, New Delhi, on 7 April 2026.

The event convened senior government representatives, global research leaders, and policy experts to deliberate on pathways for strengthening India’s food systems through science-backed agri-food systems approaches.

The inaugural session featured special remarks from distinguished leaders, including Prof. Ashok Gulati (ICRIER), Dr Madhura Swaminathan (MSSRF), Dr Raghavendra Bhatta (ICAR), Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, IAS (Government of Odisha) and senior officials from the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Ramesh Chand emphasized the importance of aligning policy decisions with robust evidence rather than short-term considerations, noting that the Hub can help generate credible insights and support informed policymaking.

“The launch of the Policy Innovation Hub marks a forward-looking step toward bringing science closer to decision-making. As CGIAR enters a new, more partner-centric phase, these hubs will play a critical role in accelerating the flow of insights between global and local contexts, while strengthening evidence-based policymaking,” noted Dr Clemens Breisinger, Director, CGIAR Policy Innovations.

Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT, said the initiative would enable more inclusive, responsive, and future-ready policies while supporting sustainable and resilient agri-food systems. Similarly, Shahidur Rashid described the Hub as a catalytic platform to mobilize collective expertise and generate global public goods.

Technical sessions during the dialogue focused on key policy issues such as food system prioritization, price policies, commodity-specific strategies, and the role of crops like millets, pulses, and cereals. Discussions also covered diversification, subsidy reforms, and integrating evidence-based approaches into policymaking.

A high-level panel discussion, chaired by PK Joshi, featured representatives from CGIAR centres including IRRI, ICARDA, CIP, IWMI, and WorldFish.

Dr Shalander Kumar, co-lead of this India Policy Innovation Hub, noted, “As a way forward, the Hub will map existing evidence and identify gaps, co-design priority themes, and co-create and pilot policy innovations. This will be done through ‘Policy Labs’ in selected states, followed by institutionalizing the process."

The event concluded with key takeaways presented by Mamta Pradhan, reinforcing the role of the newly launched Hub in advancing evidence-based transformation of India’s food systems.