“Research and Innovation will transform the Horticulture Sector”, aver experts at Amity

Amity Institute of Horticulture Studies and Research (AIHSR) in collaboration with Amity Institute of Organic Agriculture (AIOA) under the agies of Amity Food & Agriculture Foundation (AFAF) is organizing “3rd International Conference on Recent Advances in Horticulture Research (ICRAHOR-2026)” on theme, ‘Next-Generation Horticulture: Technology, Sustainability and Innovation Driven Future of Farming’, from 8-9th April 2026.

Addressing the Inaugural Session of the Conference, Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Horticulture Commissioner, Govt. of India , averred, “Horticulture Sector is growing rapidly, contributing to the growth of the economy and science and technology will play a vital role in further development of this sector. New value chains need to be created and academic institutions must come forward and develop new zero-waste technology, post-harvest technology, food processing technologies and other path-breaking innovations, leading to immediate, mid -term and long-term solutions to address the challenges of the industry.”

Sharing his words of wisdom, Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, Founder President Amity Education Group , said, “Agriculture is one of the most important sectors in India and research and innovation in this sector will lead to rapid advancement of this sector. India will not only become a developed nation by 2047 but will also become a Global Superpower through scientific development. The youth will play a key role in making our country the most developed nation in the world and Amity is committed to nurturing future leaders.”

Highlighting the importance of Research and Innovation in the Horticulture Sector, Dr. Meenakshi Singh, Chief Scientist, Technology Management Directorate, CSIR HQ, New Delhi , stated, “Innovation, entrepreneurship and research will be the key drivers which will transform the Horticulture Sector. There is an urgent need to reduce food wastage and focus on new food processing technologies, in order to increase the shelf -life of fruits and vegetables. Researchers must take lead and work on novel concepts and ideas which can lead to the growth of the sector and increase productivity.”

Dr. W. Selvamurthy, President Amity Science Technology and Innovation Foundation (ASTIF), noted, “Horticulture is an integral part of the agriculture sector. Innovative technologies should be developed for increasing crop production, thereby increasing the income of the farmers. Under the Amity Agriculture mission, collaborative research and innovation is being fostered, aligned with the National Agricultural Mission. The Conference will facilitate knowledge exchange and drive transformation of the horticulture sector towards increased productivity, resilience, and profitability.”

Welcoming the guests, D r. Nutan Kaushik, Director General -Amity Food and Agriculture Foundation (AFAF) , said, “This insightful International Conference aims to provide a platform to the students to attain knowledge about innovative solutions to transform the horticulture industry and equip them with the latest technological trends in the horticulture sector.”

During the two-day Conference, Technical Sessions on topics such as “Breeding and Biotechnological Innovation in Horticulture”, “Digital Horticulture and Smart Farming”, “Post-Harvest Management, Value-Addition and Zero-Waste Horticulture”, “Climate Resilient Horticulture, Urban & Backyard Farming” and many others will be conducted along with “Young Horti Entrepreneur Pitch Competition” and Poster Presentations.