DialogueNEXT 2025 in New Delhi Unites Global Leaders to Tackle Food Security Challenges
Leaders in agriculture from around the world have gathered in New Delhi for DialogueNEXT 2025, a two-day conference aimed at driving innovation to combat global hunger. Held from 8 to 9 September at the ICAR Convention Centre in PUSA Campus, the event focuses on getting breakthrough solutions into the hands of farmers, especially in the Global South.
The event, hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation in partnership with ICAR, CIMMYT, and the Borlaug Institute for South Asia, carries the theme “Take it to the Farmer.” It follows last year’s edition in Mexico and continues its mission of advancing farmer-centric innovation.
India Positioned as Innovation Hub for Smallholder Farming
Shri Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Director General of ICAR, addressed the gathering. He highlighted the growing complexity of global food systems due to emerging megatrends and climate pressures. These challenges, he said, require farmer-focused and systemic solutions.
He emphasised the need for increased investment in science, innovation, and partnerships from discovery through to delivery. With its rapid agricultural transformation, India is well-placed to serve as a hub for smallholder farming innovation in the Global South.
Honouring Legacy and Mobilising Global Action
Held on World Agriculture Day, DialogueNEXT 2025 also celebrates India’s rich legacy in agricultural science. The event pays tribute to the achievements of Indian World Food Prize Laureates and marks 60 years since Dr. Norman Borlaug introduced semi-dwarf wheat to India, a move that helped double food production and prevent famine.
Nicole Prenger from the World Food Prize Foundation called the event a “moonshot moment” to feed the growing global population sustainably. She emphasised that the conference is designed to trigger global action across policy, science, and civil society.
International Delegates and Cross-Sector Partnerships
The conference is attracting high-level participation from Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Notable attendees include Bhutan’s Thinley Namgyel, Nepal’s Govinda Prasad Sharma, and Máximo Torero Cullen from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. A US delegation from Iowa, including Governor Kim Reynolds and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, is also participating.
Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister of India and a Board Member of CIMMYT, along with Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT, praised India’s leadership in agricultural innovation. Govaerts noted that connecting science to farmers through platforms like DialogueNEXT is essential to achieve real-world impact in productivity, sustainability, and accessibility.
By uniting stakeholders across science, government, business, and farming communities, DialogueNEXT 2025 aims to build a stronger, more resilient global food system rooted in innovation and collaboration.