Dr. Himanshu Pathak Launches India's Largest Live Insect Repository at ICAR-NBAIR

Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), recently visited the ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (NBAIR) on April 22, 2024. His visit marked the inauguration of newly developed research facilities at the ICAR-NBAIR campus in Hebbal, along with the opening of the renovated 'Live Insects Repository,' regarded as India's largest, housing an impressive 137 live species/strains of insects across eight laboratories.

During the visit, the Director General shed light on various initiatives undertaken by ICAR, underscoring the organization's commitment to advancing agricultural research and development. Additionally, he released databases pertaining to 'Terebrantian thrips of India' and 'National Insect Museum (ICAR-NBAIR) Type QR Codes,' along with a technical bulletin titled 'Predominant white grub species of India-Diagnostics and QR codes.' These resources are poised to significantly enhance accessibility and information dissemination within the agricultural research community.

Dr. Pathak also officially launched the website for the 2nd International Conference on Biological Control (2icbc2025), which is scheduled to take place in Bengaluru from February 12 to February 15, 2025, marking a significant step towards strengthening international collaboration and information exchange. This conference is anticipated to serve as a crucial platform for stakeholders to discuss and strategize innovative approaches to biological pest control, an area of critical importance in sustainable agriculture.

S. N. Sushil, the Director of ICAR-NBAIR, provided an insightful overview of the institute's multifaceted activities and notable achievements, reaffirming its essential role in the area of agricultural insect research and management.

The meeting witnessed the participation of directors from various ICAR institutes, alongside the in-charge officials of regional stations based in Bengaluru.

This collaborative gathering highlighted the collective effort towards advancing agricultural research and addressing relevant challenges faced by the agricultural sector.