Annual India Symposium on ' Science & Society' - Technological Advancements in Agriculture

In view of India's population projected to be around 1.7 billion by 2050, resulting in a 70 percent increase in food demand, scientists are observing the role of ‘science and society’ in enhancing agricultural productivity and ensuring food security for a country already at a production deficit in several kinds of essential foods. 

The Annual India Symposium of Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute (LMSAI) at Harvard University is a flagship event that concluded in Delhi on 4^th April. The purpose was to see the role of S&T in society. It collaborated with the NITI Aayog and the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The Mittal Institute has been active in India for over a decade, serving as a platform that facilitates a two-way exchange of ideas between Harvard and Indian Universities, Government agencies and civil society.  

Shri Tarun Kanna, Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor, Harvard Business School and Director of the Institute welcomed the delegates and the first session was on the setting the context for S&T. 

The other sessions were on Why Study Life Sciences, Catalyzing Indi's Digital Health Ecosystem, Methods and Tools to enhance STEM Education with the closing session by Dr Rajiv Kumar, VC, NITI Aayog and Shri Sanjay Sharma, CEO of China and India for Arcelor Mittal. 

The Symposium was graced by eminent leaders like Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, Dr K Vijay Raghvan, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India. 

The session II on the topic 'Technological Advancements in Agriculture' was Chaired by Shri Manoj Kumar, Senior Advisor & Head - Innovation, Tata trusts with the speakers Dr Suresh Subramani, Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of California, San Diego; Ms Shannon Olsson, Associate Professor, Naturalist-Inspired Chemical Ecology, National Centre for Biological Sciences; and Dr Amitabh Mohanty, GFormer Leader, Trait Discovery Corteva Agriscience, DuPont Knowledge Centre-Hyderabad. 

Dr Shannon Olsson, who promoted the chemical ecology in India speaking on the topic, highlighted what benefits farmers are getting with the new technologies available. It was followed by Dr Suresh Subramani, who advocated the gene editing of the crops. Then Dr Amitabh Mohanty sighted examples of tomatoes and view point of the DuPont and the Corteva. At the end, Shri  Manoj Kumar summed up the event, which was followed by questions and answers from the audience. 

The Krishi Jagran live coverage on the Facebook pages also created huge impact.