The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) joined the Bharat Agrinnovation Manthan at Sahyadri Farms Post Harvest Care Ltd in Nashik — widely hailed as India’s agtech hub — to explore the future of agricultural innovation and collaboration between India and Australia.
Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, delivered the keynote address, lauding the role of agritech in strengthening India’s rural economy. “This two-day On-Farm Immersion Investor Summit is an opportunity to experience India’s largest horticulture value chain first-hand, engage in meaningful dialogues, and discover the innovations and startups that are shaping the future of agriculture.” He added:
“I believe this summit will help us address the critical questions regarding profitability, scalability, technology adoption and policy support in agriculture. It will also open doors for collaborations that empower farmers and strengthen our rural economy.”
The Chief Minister also highlighted the MahaAgri AI Policy 2025–29, which aims to position Maharashtra’s agriculture sector at the forefront of the digital era.
The two-day on-farm investor summit offered participants a first-hand look at modern grape cultivation, crop management, freeze-dry facilities, nurseries, soil health labs, and emerging innovations such as the use of microalgae in farming. The event showcased how technology is transforming agriculture from pre- to post-production stages across India.
Representing Austrade, Dr Asha S., Director of Trdae and Investment, shared insights during a panel on ground-up innovation and technology adoption, emphasising how Australian solutions can help address shared agricultural challenges such as water scarcity, climate volatility, rural connectivity, and labour shortages.
Austrade also announced that it will soon release an Australia–India Agtech Business Opportunities Report to map new areas of synergy between the two nations.
Described as a “live agri sandbox,” Bharat Agrinnovation Manthan allowed startups to test and validate ideas directly with farmers, fostering sustainable and scalable solutions across the agriculture, food, and allied industries.
As Nashik cements its place as the “Silicon Valley of AgriTech” in India, the summit reinforced the importance of cross-border collaboration in shaping the future of farming.
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