March 10, 2025
Pune
The AgriHub: One day Industry-Academia Workshop on Research Innovation for Commercialization, a joint initiative of IIT Indore and C-DAC Pune, was successfully conducted at IISER Pune on March 10th, 2025. The event served as a platform for researchers, industry professionals, and entrepreneurs to deliberate on the application of AI/ML, big data analytics, and HPC in the agricultural domain.
The event was conducted within the framework of the AgriHub initiative, an Innovation Hub for Agriculture (AI/ML & Deep Learning CoE), funded by the MeitY and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Madhya Pradesh, with the objective of facilitating the transition of research innovations to commercial agricultural applications.
The event commenced with a warm welcome by Prof. Aruna Tiwari,IIT Indore, PI, AgriHub, followed by distinguished speakers including Dr. Anil Rai ADG, ICT, ICAR, Ms. Lakshmi Panat Scientist G, C-DAC Pune, Prof. Narendra Chaudhari Vice-Chancellor, ASTU Guwahati, and Dr. Prashant Dhakephalkar Director, Agharkar Research Institute, who shared insights on digital transformation, AI, and academic-industry collaborations in agriculture. The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Pavan Kumar Kankar IIT Indore,Co-PI, AgriHub.
As key organizers of the workshop, Shri. Amit Saxena Scientist E, C-DAC Pune, PI, AgriHub, Dr. Milind B. Ratnaparkhe Principal Scientist, Indian Institute of Soybean Research, Indore, PI, AgriHub, and Dr. Shashi Rawat Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIAE, Co-PI, AgriHub played a crucial role in shaping the AgriHub project, driving its vision forward, and ensuring the workshop's success.
Keynote and Technical Sessions
The technical sessions featured a stellar lineup of experts from both academia and industry, offering deep insights into innovative agricultural solutions. Highlights included:
Keynote Talk
- Dr. Prashant Dhakephalkar, Director, Agharkar Research Institute, delivered a thought-provoking keynote on leveraging research innovation for agricultural commercialization.
Technical and Industry Sessions
- Dr. P.M. Govindakrishnan, Ex-Project Coordinator, ICAR-CPRI Shimla, shared insights into precision agriculture.
- Dr. Vibha Ahuja, Chief GM, BCIL, New Delhi, discussed regulatory and policy perspectives for agricultural biotechnology.
Industry Perspectives
- Shri. Abhijit B Joshi, Senior VP, Jain Irrigation Systems, Pune
- Dr. Paritosh Shekhar, Director, APS Labs, Pune
- Dr. Ashwini Gajarushi, Engineering Manager, Technology Innovation hub, IIT Bombay
- Shri. Pravin Dravid, Basant Agro Tech
NGO Perspective
- Dr. Rahul Bahulikar, Senior Scientist, BAIF, Pune
Emerging Technologies in Agriculture
- Shri. Akshay Zawar, Director, Genespectrum
The concluding technical sessions showcased cutting-edge research, including:
- Applications of AI/ML & Data Analytics in Agriculture - Dr. M. Karthikeyan, Senior Principal Scientist, NCL Pune
- Omics Approaches for Fruit Improvement - Dr. Anuradha Upadhyay, ICAR-NRC Grapes, Pune
- Decision Support System for Smart Viticulture - Dr. Ajay Kumar Upadhyay, ICAR-NRC Grapes, Pune
A dynamic panel discussion featuring Dr. Milind B. Ratnaparkhe, Prof. Pavan Kumar Kankar, Dr. M. Karthikeyan, and Dr. Shashi Rawat engaged the audience in thought-provoking discussions on AgriHub's potential collaborations, industry partnerships, and pathways to commercialization. The interactive session encouraged dialogue between panelists and attendees, including industry leaders and experts.
The workshop concluded with closing remarks and a Vote of Thanks by Dr. Milind B. Ratnaparkhe, highlighting the importance of academia-industry collaboration. The AgriHub workshop fostered knowledge exchange and partnerships, paving the way for AI/ML, big data, and HPC-driven innovations in agriculture. By bridging research and real-world applications, AgriHub continues to drive sustainable and impactful advancements in the field.
