ICAR and CSIR agrees MOU for working Together on Food and Agriculture

Mutually agreed areas of Agricultural foods and use of artificial intelligence

• The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in New Delhi at ICAR Headquarters.
• Both the vital bodies of agriculture food and scientific intelligence have agreed to promote and develope areas of agriculture food and medicinal foods along with application artificial intelligence in this regard.
• The MOU between these two bodies also established to formulate the collaborative programs and will meet four times a year for the purpose of agriculture foods and agriculture mechanization.

8 Agendas of Memorandum of Understanding

A joint working committee will be constituted within a month to deliberate and formulate the collaborative programs and will meet four times a year. ICAR and CSIR have agreed to form a steering committee to monitor the progress. The MOU states a collaborative working together on the following areas.,

• Mutually agreed areas of Agricultural foods
• Medicinal and aromatic plants
• Nutraceuticals products and development
• Precision agriculture, Big data analysis
• Use of artificial intelligence
• Genetic modifications in cotton
• Application of sensors in agriculture
• Post-harvest management and Agricultural mechanization

Both the sides agreed to form a Steering Committee with the co-chairmanship of both the DGs which will meet twice a year to monitor the progress.

What is Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)?

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous organization under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.
• Formerly it was known as Imperial Council of Agricultural Research which was established on 16 July 1929.
• The Council is the apex body for coordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country.
• The ICAR has played a pioneering role in ushering Green Revolution and subsequent developments in agriculture in India through its research and technology.

What is Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)?

• The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), known for its cutting edge R&D knowledge base in diverse S&T areas, is a contemporary R&D organization.
• Having a pan-India presence, CSIR has a dynamic network of 38 national laboratories, 39 outreach centers, 3 Innovation Complexes and 5 units.
• CSIR’s R&D expertise and experience is embodied in about 4600 active scientists supported by about 8000 scientific and technical personnel.
• CSIR covers a wide spectrum of science and technology – radio and space physics, oceanography, geophysics, chemicals, drugs, genomics, biotechnology and nanotechnology to mining, aeronautics, instrumentation, environmental engineering and information technology.
• It provides significant technological intervention in many areas with regard to societal efforts which include environment, health, drinking water, food, housing, energy, farms and non-farm sectors.

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