News Overview

In a move set to accelerate the development of climate-resilient crops for some of the world’s most vulnerable farming regions, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia, have launched a strategic partnership to deploy advanced Predictive Breeding technologies across dryland crop breeding programs in Asia and Africa.

Launched in March 2026, this partnership unites science, innovation, and local expertise to strengthen food systems, improve livelihoods, and scale climate-resilient solutions across southern Madagascar.

Nigerien Leaders Engage with ICRISAT to Accelerate Climate-Resilient Agriculture. In Niger, where agriculture supports most livelihoods despite intensifying climate shocks, degraded soils, and limited access to quality seed, a deepening partnership with ICRISAT is driving more resilient farming systems nationwide.

Marking a breakthrough in the fight against food insecurity and low rural incomes in Malawi, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), together with the Government of Malawi and national research institutions, has supported the release of the country’s first early-maturing vegetable pigeonpea variety, enabling farmers to earn sooner while improving household nutrition.

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in partnership with the Government of Odisha, ICAR–Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (ICAR-CRIDA), and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), jointly organised the State-level Inception Workshop of the Odisha Agriculture Drought Mitigation Programme (OADMP) in Bhubaneswar on 30 January 2026.

ICRISAT, in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through the All India Coordinated Research Project on Pearl Millet (AICRP) centre at the Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute (RARI) has developed the multifunctional, world’s first three-way pearl millet hybrid, RHB 273.

Five-day hands-on training equips scientists from Asia and Africa with practical genomics skills to improve the use of germplasm for breeding and food security.

On this UN World Soil Day, we are reminded by Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, that healthy soils are not only the foundation of life in rural drylands, but are equally essential to the health and resilience of our cities.