ICRISAT and IFPRI Launch CGIAR India Policy Innovation Hub
The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in partnership with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), launched the CGIAR India Policy Innovation Hub, a co-creation platform designed to strengthen evidence-led policymaking for transforming India’s food systems.
21 April 2026, New Delhi: The India Policy Innovation Hub is part of CGIAR’s global Policy Innovations initiative, aimed at accelerating the translation of research into impactful policies.
The Hub will serve as a national platform connecting science from institutes like ICRISAT and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) with policy priorities. It will also align these efforts with the vision of Viksit Bharat, in collaboration with NITI Aayog.
The launch took place during the policy dialogue on “Evidence-Led Food Systems Transformation Policies in the Context of Viksit Bharat,” held at the NASC Complex, New Delhi on 7 April 2026. Dr Raka Saxena, Senior Advisor, NITI Aayog, formally launched the Hub.
The event convened senior government representatives, global research leaders, and policy experts to deliberate on pathways for strengthening India’s food systems through science-backed agri-food systems approaches.
The inaugural session featured special remarks from distinguished leaders including Prof. Ashok Gulati (ICRIER), Dr Madhura Swaminathan (MSSRF), Dr Raghavendra Bhatta (ICAR), Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, IAS (Government of Odisha) and senior officials from the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.
“In a complex and diverse system like India, it is critical to align policy decisions with robust evidence rather than perceptions or short-term considerations. The Policy Innovation Hub can play a pivotal role in bridging this gap by generating credible evidence, correcting misconceptions, and fostering informed dialogue, thereby enabling more balanced, effective, and future-ready policy choices for the agricultural sector,” stated Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayog.
“The launch of the Policy Innovation Hub marks a forward-looking step toward bringing science closer to decision-making. As CGIAR enters a new, more partner-centric phase, these hubs will play a critical role in accelerating the flow of insights between global and local contexts, while strengthening evidence-based policymaking,” noted Dr Clemens Breisinger, Director, CGIAR Policy Innovations.
“As a co-lead alongside IFPRI, ICRISAT is committed to strengthening collaboration, building capacities, and co-creating solutions with partners. This initiative will enable the design of more responsive, inclusive, and forward-looking policies, aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat and the need for sustainable, resilient agri-food systems,” remarked Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT.
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