The 6th BioAgTech World Congress & Expo 2025 officially commenced on April 23, 2025 at The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, Shahdara, New Delhi, marking the beginning of one of the world’s most significant gatherings dedicated to biological and sustainable agriculture. Organized by Global BioAg Linkages (GBL) in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), ICRISAT, and global partners, the Congress brought together over 400 delegates from more than 30 countries to advance science‑led farming, strengthen international cooperation, and empower grassroots innovation.
Inaugural Ceremony: A Global Convergence of Vision and Purpose
The day began with a grand inaugural ceremony led by Dr. Suresh Prabhu, Former Union Minister and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), joined by a prestigious panel of dignitaries including Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT and Former DG, ICAR; Dr. S.K. Malhotra, Vice Chancellor, Maharana Pratap Horticultural University (MHU); Dr. Carlos Goulart, Secretary of Agricultural Defense, Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA), Brazil; Giuseppe Natale, Founder of Vedalia and Former CEO of Valagro; Antonio Zem, Board Member of BioFirst and Former CEO of Biotrop; and A.G. Kawamura, Former Secretary of Agriculture, California, USA. This ceremonial start symbolized international unity for food security and climate resilience. A key highlight was the introduction of the Valencia Disaster Relief Fund, underscoring the Congress’s humanitarian commitment to supporting disaster‑affected agricultural communities.
ICAR‑Led Workshop: India’s Innovations, Regulatory Leadership, and Global Collaboration
The morning continued with a workshop led by ICAR, co‑chaired by Dr. Suresh Prabhu and Dr. Himanshu Pathak, focused on India’s agricultural research advancements, regulatory progress, and global engagement in sustainable farming. Regulatory session (chaired by Dr. S.K. Malhotra): presentations by Dr. Carlos Goulart on Brazil’s transformative Bioinputs Law; Dr. A.K. Saxena on India’s evolving biostimulant regulations; and Karel Bolckmans, President of IBMA, on EU regulatory harmonization. Innovation session (chaired by Dr. P. Malik, CEO, Agrinnovate India): speakers included Dr. Vishwanathan (Joint Director, IARI), Ryan Bond (Vice President, Innovation, Business Development & Agronomy, USA), Dr. T. Damodaran (Director, CISH‑ICAR), and Giuseppe Natale on strategies for scaling research into commercially viable solutions. Future collaboration segment (chaired by Dr. Himanshu Pathak): insights from Antonio Zem, A.G. Kawamura, Juzar Khorakiwala (CMD, Biostadt India), and R.G. Aggarwal (Chairman, Dhanuka Agritech) calling for bold, inclusive approaches to farmer‑first innovation.
Session 1: Integrating BioAgTech for Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture
Post‑lunch, the Congress hosted a high‑powered session titled “Integrating BioAgTech for Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture,” chaired by Roger Tripathi, Founder and CEO of GBL. The session opened with ceremonial traditions and a renewed appeal to support affected farming communities through the Valencia fund. Industry leaders including Giuseppe Natale, Juzar Khorakiwala, and Martin Andermatt shared five decades of lived experience in building sustainable agribusinesses. Dr. Suresh Prabhu delivered a keynote advocating for science‑backed, farmer‑centric policy. A.G. Kawamura emphasized the foundational role of soil health. Ashish Dobhal, CEO, UPL‑SAS, discussed how integrated innovation and leadership can drive global farming transformations. The session closed with Dr. Himanshu Pathak unveiling “Vision 2047” — India’s long‑term strategy for sustainable agriculture and rural prosperity.
Session 2: Streamlining and Harmonizing Global BioAg Regulations
The final technical session of the day, chaired by Dr. P.K. Singh, Agriculture Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture, focused on accelerating regulatory alignment for biologicals across global markets. Updates came from Dr. Carlos Goulart (Brazil), Dr. A.K. Saxena (India), and virtual contributors Theodora Nikolakopoulou and Klaus Berend of the European Commission on EU approaches. Industry insights were shared by Keith Jones (Executive Director, BPIA, USA), Jose Carvalho (Certis Biologicals), KRK Reddy (President, BIPA), Karel Bolckmans (IBMA), and Dr. Piyatida Pukclai (Dr. Knoell Consult, Thailand).
Evening Highlight: Global BioAgTech Sustainable Grower Award
The day concluded with the prestigious Global BioAgTech Sustainable Grower Award, sponsored by Corteva Agriscience, recognizing two exemplary leaders in regenerative and biological farming. Dr. Howard‑Yana Shapiro, Chief Agricultural Officer at Mars, Inc. and Co‑founder of Seeds of Change, was honored for his global impact on biodiversity, farmer livelihoods, and sustainable food systems. Sartaj Khan, a progressive Indian farmer, was recognized for transforming his land with biological solutions and championing knowledge‑sharing among rural peers.
Closing Reflections and Outlook
Concluding Day 1, Roger Tripathi, CEO of Global BioAg Linkages, shared a compelling message: “This Congress is a platform built not just for dialogue, but for action. … Because the future of agriculture will not be dictated, it will be co‑created, in rooms like this, by people like you.” With that message, the Congress prepares to enter Day 2, featuring strategic investor‑startup matchups, sessions on gender equity and institutional collaboration, and global business models redefining the future of BioAgTech.
