ICAE 2024 Curtain Raiser Event: Setting the Stage for a Landmark Conference

The upcoming 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE) has made a promising start in the nation’s capital today with a successful curtain raiser event held at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research - National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (ICAR-NIAP). This pivotal event set the stage for the main conference, scheduled for August 2-7, 2024 in New Delhi.

As the flagship event of the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE) since 1929, ICAE has long been a cornerstone for advancing agricultural economics and addressing global agricultural and food systems challenges. The conference marked a return to India 65 years after the 10th ICAE was held in Mysore in 1958.

Talking about the conference, Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayog and Chair, Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the ICAE 2024 said, “The present India that will welcome the conference delegates in 2024 is different from India of 1958. This time round, the global delegation will go back with India’s agricultural transformation as a successful case study.  This conference will also be an excellent opportunity for our young researchers to learn and network with the global experts attending the event and for the entire community to explore and exchange new ideas, technologies and tools.”

The theme for ICAE 2024, "Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems," was introduced during the curtain raiser, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable agricultural practices in the face of global challenges such as climate change, land degradation, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and rising production costs. This preview highlighted key research areas and discussions that will be central to the main conference, including innovations in farming systems, natural farming, digitalization, drones, and nutrition security.

Dr. P.K. Joshi, President, Agricultural Economics Research Association (AERA-India), shared about the inception of the ICAE conference in 1929 by Professor Leonard K. Elmhirst. “The ICAE began as a modest conference with participants from 11 countries in 1929. It has since grown into a premier triennial gathering of agricultural economists from around the world. India is poised to play a major role in the agri-food system transformation, ensuring healthy, safe, and affordable food for all."

The curtain raiser is jointly organized by the ICAR-NIAP, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the Agricultural Economics Research Association (AERA - India), the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) and the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics (ISAE). The success of the curtain raiser reflected the strong interest and high expectations for the upcoming conference from the partners and its organizing members, many of whom are globally renowned senior researchers in the field.

Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICAR and Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) said, “The theme of the conference aligns with the larger goals of ICAR where sustainability is a major parameter in our research. We have worked on the development of biofortified and climate resilient varieties and this conference is a great platform for our researchers to engage and exchange ideas with the global community. We are looking forward to initiating new partnerships and programs which can eventually contribute to a strong roadmap towards a sustainable and resilient Viksit Bharat@2047.”

Dr. P. S. Birthal, Director, ICAR-NIAP said, “The curtain raiser was a perfect introduction to the depth and breadth of ICAE 2024, showcasing the comprehensive scope and significance of the upcoming conference.” He emphasized the relevance of “enabling policies in bringing technology to the field, realigning incentives and navigating trade-offs in policy making.”

Dr. Shahidur Rashid, Director-South Asia, IFPRI added, “This event underscored ICAE 2024’s critical role in advancing sustainable agri-food systems amidst global challenges that transcend geopolitical borders and through this conference, we can look at cooperative solutions and exchange ideas to support sustainable agri-food systems transformation.”

Dr. Smita Sirohi, the Organizing Secretary for ICAE 2024 and Principal Scientist, ICAR, remarked that, “Over 925 delegates, of which 45% are women, have registered from 75 countries to attend the conference, with the organizers supporting the attendance of many young researchers from the country. There will also be exhibitions showcasing India’s Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and other agribusinesses.”

The ICAE 2024 conference, commencing on August 2, will continue the momentum generated by the curtain raiser, featuring a comprehensive program of plenary sessions, expert panels, workshops, and networking opportunities. The conference will see presentations on innovative research, sharing of best practices, and fostering collaborations to influence policymaking on national, regional and global scales by developing evidence-based policies that promote sustainable agricultural transformation.