ACADEMIA- INDUSTRY FARMER PARTNERSHIP (AIFP) CONCLAVE-2025
The Academia–Industry–Farmer Partnership (AIFP) Conclave 2025 was organized by the School of Agriculture and Food Technology (SAFT), Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology and Research (VFSTR) on 15 March 2025. The conclave aimed to strengthen collaboration among academia, industry stakeholders, progressive farmers, and policymakers to address contemporary challenges in agriculture and promote innovation, sustainability, and farmer welfare.
The event was presided over by Prof. P. Nagabhushan, Vice-Chancellor, VFSTR, and the Chief Guest was Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director and Vice-Chancellor of ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI). In his address, the Vice-Chancellor emphasized the integration of four pillars of modern agriculture—farmer experience, academic knowledge, industrial engineering, and governance support—to transform agriculture into a profitable and technology-driven sector. He highlighted the importance of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, precision farming, and data-driven decision systems in strengthening agricultural productivity and sustainability.
The Dean of SAFT, Prof. T. Ramesh Babu, presented the achievements and initiatives of the school, including research programs, international collaborations, and infrastructure development such as the Hi-Tech Nursery (HTN) and Tree-Based Enterprise Incubation Centre (TBEIC) established under the TOFI programme supported by USAID and MoEFCC. The school also maintains academic and research collaborations with several national institutes including ICRISAT, ICAR-IIMR, ICAR-IIRR, ICAR-IIOR, ICAR-NIRCA, and industry partners.
Distinguished speakers from research institutions, industries, and farming communities highlighted critical issues such as climate-resilient agriculture, soil health restoration, millet promotion for nutritional security, commercialization of agriculture, and value addition through food processing. Experts emphasized the need to transform agriculture from a labor-intensive activity into a viable agri-business model, supported by modern technologies, mechanization, and strong market linkages. Progressive farmers shared practical experiences related to seed quality, soil degradation, market price disparities, and the need for improved extension services.
The conclave also featured four concurrent technical sessions on Fertilizers, Pesticides, Seeds, and Food Technology. These sessions focused on collaborative research opportunities, curriculum enhancement aligned with industry needs, internships, faculty immersion programs, and entrepreneurship development. Discussions highlighted the importance of biopesticides, soil-test-based fertilizer management, high-quality seed production, precision agriculture technologies, and food processing for reducing post-harvest losses. Industry representatives also emphasized the need for skill-oriented training, exposure visits, and stronger industry–university linkages to prepare students for emerging opportunities in the agricultural sector.
A significant outcome of the conclave was the strengthening of institutional partnerships, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between VFSTR and ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (IIOPR) to promote collaborative research, student training, and capacity building. The discussions concluded with a collective commitment to foster farmer-centric innovation, interdisciplinary research, agri-technology adoption, and entrepreneurship, ensuring that scientific advancements effectively reach farmers and contribute to sustainable agricultural development.
