India and Argentina on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening agricultural cooperation by signing a new Work Plan aimed at expanding collaboration in research, technology exchange, and capacity building. The agreement marks a significant step forward in bilateral ties, with a focus on sustainable agronomy, digital agriculture, and biotechnology.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Argentina’s National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) formalised the partnership through the signing of the “Work Plan 2025–2027,” which lays out a comprehensive roadmap for cooperation across a wide range of agricultural domains. The initiative reflects shared priorities in innovation-driven farming, climate resilience, and food security.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the Work Plan establishes collaboration in key areas such as natural resource management, sustainable agronomy practices including zero tillage, mechanisation, micro-irrigation and fertigation, crop and animal biotechnology, livestock improvement, and production technologies for both temperate and tropical crops. It also covers digital agriculture, biosafety and phytosanitary measures, and agricultural value chain development.

Implementation of the agreement will take place through joint research projects, exchange of germplasm, expert-level engagements, and structured training programmes, including study visits between the two countries. These initiatives are designed to facilitate knowledge sharing and promote the adoption of advanced technologies tailored to diverse agro-climatic conditions.

The Ministry said that planned training programmes and study visits will focus on areas such as greenhouse vegetable production, floriculture and temperate fruit cultivation, post-harvest physiology, functional food development, veterinary diagnostics, precision livestock farming, and waste-to-wealth technologies. Additional areas of cooperation include microbial feed enhancement, digital agriculture platforms, and sanitary and phytosanitary systems.

Germplasm exchange is a key component of the Work Plan and will include crops of mutual interest such as soybean, sunflower, maize, blueberry, citrus, wild papaya species, guava, and selected vegetable varieties. This exchange is expected to support crop diversification, improve productivity, and enhance resilience to climate stress.

India and Argentina are also deepening cooperation in oilseeds and pulses value chains, agricultural mechanisation—including zero-tillage technologies, cotton harvesting machinery, and the use of drones—and horticulture value chain development. The collaboration will also focus on strengthening infrastructure and facilitating the exchange of high-quality planting material.

In the area of plant and animal health, the Work Plan envisages region-specific strategies for the elimination of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and enhanced collaboration on locust surveillance and management. This will be achieved through technical exchanges and the sharing of best practices, aimed at improving early warning systems and response mechanisms.

The agreement was formally exchanged by Dr. M.L. Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of ICAR, and Mariano Augustín Caucino, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to India. Officials described the exchange as a milestone in strengthening long-term agricultural cooperation between the two countries.

The new Work Plan underscores the growing importance of India–Argentina collaboration in addressing global agricultural challenges, promoting sustainable farming practices, and leveraging technology to enhance productivity and food security. Both sides expressed confidence that the partnership would deliver tangible benefits for farmers, researchers, and agribusiness stakeholders in the years ahead.