“The nation gives us everything; we too must learn to give back,” : Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
“If we save the soil, we save the future,” Shri Chouhan
15 July 2026, New Delhi
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), in collaboration with Agrinnovate India Ltd. (AgIn), organized the ICAR Technology Portfolio for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Conclave 2026 at the NASC Complex, New Delhi, today under the theme "Partnering for Agricultural Transformation: Mobilizing CSR for a Sustainable Agri-Future."
The Conclave brought together >150 representatives from 75+ corporates, industry leaders, and philanthropic organizations to explore CSR-led partnerships for sustainable agricultural development aligned with ICAR's mission and national priorities.
The five priority themes identified for high-impact CSR interventions in 2026 are:
Climate Proofing of Indian Agriculture;
Soil Health Improvement through Nature-based Solutions and Crop Diversification;
Agriculture for Health;
Agriculture Skilling; and
Women in Agriculture and Extension.
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, attended the Conclave as the Chief Guest. Shri Bhagirath Choudhary and Shri Ram Nath Thakur, Union Ministers of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, were the Guests of Honour.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that “The nation gives us everything; we too must learn to give back,” emphasizing that CSR is not merely a legal obligation but a powerful instrument for nation-building. Referring to Mahatma Gandhi’s Trusteeship Principle, he said that those with greater resources have a moral responsibility to contribute to society’s welfare.
He stressed the need for rapid commercialization of ICAR’s technologies through stronger private sector participation to ensure timely benefits for farmers. Citing the jute sector as an example, he highlighted how mechanization is improving productivity, product quality and farmers’ incomes.
The Union Minister called for greater CSR investments in climate-resilient agriculture, soil health, agri-startups, youth skill development, food processing and women farmers’ empowerment. Noting that nearly 46% of India’s population depends on agriculture, he said such investments would accelerate innovation, generate rural employment and promote sustainable development.
By stating, “If we save the soil, we save the future,” Shri Chouhan underscored the importance of soil health for human well-being and urged the corporate sector to view CSR as a national commitment towards building a Viksit Bharat and ensuring farmers’ prosperity.
In his address, Shri Bhagirath Choudhary said that agriculture is the foundation of India’s economy and rural prosperity, and highlighted CSR as a key driver of sustainable agricultural development. Welcoming the corporate sector’s commitment to partnering with the Department of Agriculture, he said such collaborations would accelerate innovation, technology adoption and impactful interventions for farmers.
He emphasized that farmers’ welfare and the sustainable growth of agriculture require strong synergy among policy, science and public participation. Acknowledging the contributions of scientists, officers and staff, Shri Choudhary urged all stakeholders to strengthen this collective effort to build a prosperous, self-reliant rural India and advance the nation’s agricultural transformation.
Shri Ram Nath Thakur said that agriculture is the soul of India and the foundation of rural prosperity, emphasizing the need for stronger partnerships between public institutions and the corporate sector to advance farmers’ welfare, agricultural innovation and the adoption of modern technologies.
He highlighted CSR as a catalyst for transformative interventions in water conservation, soil health, climate-resilient agriculture, innovation and farmer empowerment. Commending the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare’s dedicated efforts under the leadership of Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan to address farmers’ concerns, Shri Thakur called for greater collaboration among all stakeholders to build a sustainable, modern and prosperous agricultural future for India.
Addressing the inaugural session of the ICAR Technology Portfolio for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Conclave 2026, Dr M.L. Jat, Secretary, DARE & Director General, ICAR, highlighted the transformative role of science in advancing Indian agriculture and called for stronger partnerships to address the evolving challenges of the agri-food system.
Emphasising the need to strengthen the Discovery-to-Delivery Continuum, he advocated greater convergence among research institutions, industry and other stakeholders to accelerate technology dissemination and sustainable agricultural transformation. He stated that the future of agriculture lies in strengthening the entire agri-food value chain, extending beyond production to pre- and post-production interventions.
The programme featured keynote sessions, thematic panel discussions, roundtables, and Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) meetings on co-funding models, technology commercialization, programme implementation and long-term partnerships.
An exhibition showcasing ICAR's 75+ technologies, innovations, startup ecosystem and flagship programmes, drew significant interest from industry and CSR stakeholders. The exhibits highlighted technologies ready for commercialization and large-scale adoption, while showcasing opportunities in agricultural research, climate-resilient farming, technology dissemination, capacity building, rural entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihood promotion.
The Conclave built on four regional CSR roadshows held in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kolkata, which collectively engaged over 500 stakeholders from industry, research institutions, startups, philanthropic organizations and civil society.
The Conclave aims to accelerate the adoption of ICAR’s farmer-centric technologies through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partnerships, resource convergence and stronger public-private collaboration. It seeks to mobilize CSR investments for priority agricultural programmes, promote scalable multi-stakeholder initiatives, strengthen industry-academia collaboration and facilitate new CSR-supported projects for inclusive and sustainable rural development.
As ICAR’s commercial arm, Agrinnovate India Ltd. (AgIn) will serve as the nodal agency for CSR partnerships by facilitating CSR-ready projects, forging strategic collaborations, supporting implementation, and ensuring transparency and impact assessment, thereby scaling agricultural innovations and strengthening farmers’ livelihoods.
Industry representatives shared their perspectives on strengthening ICAR–industry partnerships through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to drive innovation, technology adoption and sustainable agricultural development.
Representatives of 10 industry partners announced CSR funding commitments for ICAR technologies and initiatives during the Conclave, while other participating companies reaffirmed their commitment to supporting ICAR’s efforts through future CSR collaborations.
ICAR will celebrate its 98th Foundation Day on 16 July 2026 at the NASC Complex, New Delhi. The celebrations will showcase the Council's achievements in agricultural research, education and extension, honour outstanding contributions to Indian agriculture, and reaffirm ICAR's commitment to science-led, climate-resilient and farmer-centric agricultural development for ensuring food and nutritional security, enhancing farmers' incomes and realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
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