Seed congress explores market intelligence for enhanced genetic gains

NSC 2024 featured a plenary on “Leveraging Market Intelligence for Enhanced Genetic Gains” highlighting the transformative role of data-driven insights in aligning breeding programs with market demands. Experts emphasized public-private partnerships, grassroots feedback, and platforms like GloMIP to drive innovation, enhance genetic gains, and advance sustainable agricultural practices for global food security.

ISARC, Varanasi, India, 29 November 29 2024 — The 13th National Seed Congress (NSC), co-organized by the International Rice Research Institute and theNational Seed Research and Training Centre under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, showcased a dynamic plenary session on “Leveraging Market Intelligence in the Seed Industry for Enhanced Genetic Gains.” The session brought together a diverse group of experts from research institutions, private companies, and farmer organizations. They discussed how data-driven insights can improve breeding programs and seed systems to better meet agriculture’s changing needs. The session encouraged engaging discussions and practical insights, highlighting how Market Intelligence (MI) can transform farming practices.

Discussions on various subtopics were abundant as speakers emphasized how Market Intelligence bridges policy, research, and local-level decisions. In his introduction, Dr. Prakashan C.V. from IRRI emphasized the CGIAR initiative’s global relevance and introduced the MI framework, focusing on its integration with platforms like the Global Market Intelligence Platform (GloMIP) to guide evidence-based breeding programs.

Adding to this, Dr. K.V. Raju, Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, called to establish a robust national Market Intelligence system. Reflecting on the success of market-based approaches by organizations like the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), he suggested, “A comprehensive Market Intelligence framework can empower stakeholders across the agricultural value chain. With public-private partnerships and effective data-sharing mechanisms, we can create…