India and Argentina sign ICAR-INTA Work Plan 2025-27 to boost bilateral agricultural research and technology exchange

**Executive Summary** The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Argentina, have signed a Work Plan for 2025-2027 to strengthen bilateral cooperation in agricultural research and technology exchange. The Work Plan focuses on areas such as natural resource management, biotechnology, and plant and animal health, including germplasm exchange, expert engagements, and training. Annual monitoring and review are planned to ensure effective implementation and progress. **Key Points / Main Content** * **General Cooperation:** * Strengthens India-Argentina cooperation in agricultural research, capacity building, and technology exchange. * Focuses on strengthening bilateral agricultural collaboration. * Commits to annual monitoring and review. * **Areas of Collaboration:** * Natural resource management. * Sustainable agronomy including zero tillage. * Mechanization. * Micro-irrigation and fertigation. * Crop and animal biotechnology. * Livestock improvement. * Production technologies for temperate and tropical crops. * Digital agriculture. * Biosafety and phytosanitary measures. * Oilseeds and pulses value chain. * Horticulture value chain development, including infrastructure and planting material exchange. * Region-specific Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) elimination strategies. * Enhanced collaboration on locust surveillance and management. * **Activities:** * Joint research. * Germplasm exchange. * Expert engagements. * Structured training and study visits. * Technical exchanges and best-practice sharing. * **Specific Focus Areas:** * Germplasm exchange including soybean, sunflower, maize, blueberry, citrus, wild papaya species, guava, and select vegetable crops. * Training covering greenhouse vegetable production, floriculture and temperate fruits, post-harvest physiology, functional food development, veterinary diagnostics, precision livestock farming, waste-to-wealth technologies, microbial feed enhancement, digital agriculture, and sanitary and phytosanitary systems. **Impact Analysis** **ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) and DARE (Department of Agricultural Research and Education)** * **Impact:** ICAR and DARE are central to the implementation of the Work Plan, strengthening its research capabilities and international collaborations. * **Action Required:** ICAR needs to coordinate and implement the planned research, training, and exchange activities, and monitor the progress to ensure alignment with the Work Plan objectives. **INTA (National Institute of Agricultural Technology), Argentina** * **Impact:** INTA is a key partner in the collaboration, allowing Argentinian agricultural technologies and expertise to be shared. * **Action Required:** INTA must coordinate and implement the planned research, training, and exchange activities, and monitor the progress to ensure alignment with the Work Plan objectives. **Indian and Argentinian Agricultural Sectors/Farmers** * **Impact:** The collaboration can lead to improved agricultural practices, new technologies, and enhanced crop production, ultimately benefiting farmers in both countries. * **Action Required:** Farmers need to be informed about the developments and opportunities arising from the collaboration to adopt new practices and technologies. **Research and Development Community** * **Impact:** Researchers and scientists from both countries will benefit from the exchange of knowledge, technologies, and best practices, fostering innovation in agricultural research. * **Action Required:** Engage in joint research projects, participate in training programs, and share findings to maximize the impact of the collaboration.

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