India's Sustainable Agriculture Summit 2024 Focuses on Net-Zero Goals

In the wake of adverse impacts of climate change and in keeping with Government of India’s commitment of achieving net-zero goal by 2070, a panel of scientists, policymakers, farmers, industry experts and think tanks will come together to discuss and advance sustainable agricultural practices for a greener tomorrow at the ‘Sustainable Agriculture Summit & Awards 2024’ in New Delhi on August 7, 2024. According to government estimates, climate change is projected to reduce wheat yield by 19.3% in 2050 and 40% in 2080 scenarios towards the end of the century with significant spatial and temporal variations. Also, climate change is projected to reduce the kharif maize yields by 18 and 23% in 2050 and 2080 scenarios, respectively. Climate change reduces crop yields and lower nutrition quality of produce. Extreme events like droughts affect the food and nutrient consumption, and its impact on farmers. 

“It is imperative in this wake that all those part of the agriculture ecosystem work together to find long-term solutions to these pressing challenges, and one of the key objectives of bringing a large network of stakeholders at this conference is to spur discussions and brainstorm ideas,” said Dr Navneet Anand, Chairman of the Organizing Committee. The Summit is organised by India’s leading agriculture news portals, Agriculture Post and IndiAgri.

India has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, with agriculture playing a vital role in this effort. As the third-largest contributor to the nation's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, agriculture impacts emissions through land-use changes, agricultural activities, livestock, and food production. “Sustainable Agriculture Summit & Awards, 2024 will offer a platform for stakeholders to discuss strategies for reducing agricultural emissions and transforming food production, distribution, and consumption.

With an expected population of 1.7 billion by 2050, India will need 400 million tonnes of food grains to meet its growing demands. The Summit will highlight the importance of enhancing access to, availability, and efficient use of agricultural inputs to achieve the Government of India’s goal of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047.’ To carry forward this agenda, the Summit has pledged to advance India’s focus on promoting sustainable agricultural practices, for a greener tomorrow and making Viksit Krishi for Viksit Bharat (Developed Agriculture for Developed India).

The six sessions of the day-long Summit are comprised of Sustainability in Agriculture: Key Imperatives for Viksit Bharat; Sustainable Agri-Inputs: Enhancing Crop Yield for Atmanirbhar Bharat; Technology & Innovation: Farming for Future; Soil and Water Management, Solarization, Animal Husbandry: Imperatives for Sustainable Agri-food System; Sustainable Farming Practices: Carving a Roadmap for Future of Agriculture; and Farming for Profit: Connecting Farms to Fair Markets.

The Summit will set a stage for the policymakers, industry stakeholders, researchers, farmers and other critical stakeholders to deliberate on implementing sustainable farming practices in the country. Navratna public sector enterprise, National Fertilizers Limited (NFL), other public sector companies Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL), National Seeds Corporation Limited (NSC) and Small Farmers Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC) including leading agri-input companies, IPL Biologicals Limited, Godrej Agrovet Limited, Savannah Seeds are supporting the Summit.

“With an anticipated population of 1.7 billion by 2050, India will require 400 million tonnes of food grains to satisfy its growing needs. The Summit will emphasize the critical importance of improving access to, availability, and efficient use of agricultural inputs to meet the Government of India’s 'Viksit Bharat 2047' goal. To further this agenda, the Summit is committed to advancing India's focus on promoting sustainable agricultural practices, fostering a greener future, and achieving 'Viksit Krishi for Viksit Bharat,” said Dr Anand, also Director of GreyMatters Communications.

The Summit is striving to empower farmers and enhance their self-reliance while transforming India into an agricultural powerhouse. This summit will be pivotal in safeguarding farmers’ interests, conserving vital agricultural resources for long-term sustainability, and exploring modern farming methods adaptable to climate change, thereby significantly contributing to a prosperous future for India.