ICAR Launches Maitri 2.0 Brazil–India Cross-Incubation Programme in Agritech to Strengthen Bilateral Innovation and Food Security.

In September 2025, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched the second edition of the Brazil–India Cross-Incubation Programme in Agritech, named Maitri 2.0, in New Delhi. The initiative aims to foster innovation-driven growth, agritech collaboration, and strengthen India–Brazil agricultural partnerships.

      - Maitri 2.0 is designed as a two-way learning and co-creation platform to strengthen incubator linkages, exchange best practices, and promote co-incubation in agritech. It focuses on digital technologies, sustainable agriculture, and value-chain development to address global food and nutritional security challenges.

      - The launch event was graced by Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR), Kenneth Nobrega, Ambassador of Brazil to India, senior ICAR officials, and representatives from leading Brazilian research and innovation institutions, reflecting high-level bilateral cooperation.

      - Dr. Jat highlighted the 77-year-long India–Brazil agricultural partnership and their shared roles in BRICS and G20. He also termed the recent ICAR–EMBRAPA MoU a milestone in advancing bilateral collaboration across the agri-food value chain, further cementing their strategic partnership.

Main Point :-   (i) ICAR has transformed from producing just 74 patents in 1996 to over 1,800 annually today, supported by incubation centers and over 5,000 licensing agreements.

      (ii) This reflects ICAR’s strong role in delivering publicly funded innovations to end-users and supporting over 400 agri-startups.

(iii) Ambassador Nobrega emphasized Maitri 2.0 as strategically important for creating synergies in agritech and food security, while ICAR officials underscored the need to view agriculture as both livelihood and business.
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