India, Argentina sign major agriculture research pact to boost innovation and food security
India and Argentina have taken a significant step toward deepening their strategic partnership in agriculture with the signing of a Work Plan for 2025–2027 between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Argentina’s National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA). The agreement aims to expand collaboration in agricultural research, technology exchange and capacity building.
The signed work plan was formally exchanged on Tuesday by the Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of ICAR, along with the Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to India, marking a new phase in bilateral cooperation in the agriculture sector.
Under the agreement, both countries will work closely in key areas such as natural resource management, sustainable farming practices, and advanced agronomy, including zero tillage, mechanisation, micro-irrigation and fertigation. The partnership also covers crop and animal biotechnology, livestock improvement, production technologies suited for both temperate and tropical regions, digital agriculture, biosafety, phytosanitary systems, and value chain development.
The collaboration will be implemented through joint research projects, germplasm exchange, expert-level engagements and structured training programmes and study visits. Planned study visits and training initiatives will focus on areas such as greenhouse-based vegetable production, floriculture, temperate fruit cultivation, post-harvest management, functional food development, veterinary diagnostics, precision livestock farming, and waste-to-wealth technologies.
Cooperation will also extend to microbial feed enhancement, digital agriculture solutions and sanitary and phytosanitary systems. As part of germplasm exchange, both sides will share genetic material of crops including soybean, sunflower, maize, blueberry, citrus, guava, wild papaya species, and selected vegetable varieties. India and Argentina will also work together to strengthen oilseeds and pulses value chains, enhance agricultural mechanisation — including zero-tillage equipment, cotton harvesting machinery and drones and develop robust horticulture value chains supported by improved infrastructure and quality planting material.
In the area of plant and animal health, the work plan outlines cooperation on region-specific Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) elimination strategies, as well as closer coordination on locust surveillance and management through technical exchanges and sharing of best practices.
Argentine Ambassador Mariano Caucino described the agreement as a direct outcome of the historic summit between President Javier Milei and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Argentina in July 2025. Emphasising the strong complementarities between the two economies, he also acknowledged the role played by Agriculture Attaché Mariano Beheran, whose efforts since the establishment of the agriculture office in Delhi in 2019 helped pave the way for the collaboration.
Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the India — Argentina scientific partnership and agreed on annual monitoring and review mechanisms to ensure the timely and effective implementation of the work plan. The agreement is expected to enhance agricultural innovation, improve productivity, and contribute to long-term food and nutritional security in both nations.
