ICAR–ISEC–NFCSF–ISMA Partnership: Advancing Sugarcane Research, Innovation and Farmer Prosperity
The National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd. (NFCSF), through the Indian Sugar Exim Corporation (ISEC), along with the Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), has entered into a landmark partnership with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to strengthen sugarcane research, breeding and varietal development in India. The collaboration represents a significant step towards creating a stronger, more productive, sustainable and climate-resilient sugarcane sector, with farmers’ prosperity at the centre of its vision.
A key initiative under this collaboration is the proposed establishment of a Global Centre of Excellence for Sugarcane Breeding at ICAR–Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore. The Centre is envisaged as a platform that will bring together scientific expertise, advanced research capabilities and industry experience to accelerate the development, validation, technology transfer, commercialisation and adoption of improved sugarcane varieties. The focus will be on developing varieties with higher yield, improved sugar recovery, enhanced disease resistance and greater climate resilience, helping address emerging challenges in sugarcane cultivation and strengthening the competitiveness of the Indian sugar industry.
The partnership will promote the application of advanced scientific technologies in sugarcane breeding, including genomics, genome editing, marker-assisted selection, phenomics and tissue culture. These modern approaches will help accelerate varietal improvement and support the development of sugarcane suited to changing climatic conditions and evolving agricultural requirements. The collaboration will also encourage wider adoption of precision agriculture, mechanisation, digital technologies, pest and disease surveillance and management, and sustainable production practices, with emphasis on efficient utilisation of resources and long-term environmental sustainability.
An important feature of the initiative is the strengthening of collaboration between scientific institutions and the sugar industry. By connecting research with industry requirements and field-level needs, the partnership seeks to facilitate faster technology transfer, commercialisation and adoption of improved varieties and modern agricultural practices. The initiative will also support capacity building through training programmes, workshops and awareness activities for scientists, researchers, technical personnel, industry professionals, extension workers and farmers, helping create a stronger ecosystem for knowledge sharing and innovation.
The collaboration places a strong emphasis on moving innovation from the laboratory to the field. Improved varieties, advanced technologies and scientific knowledge are intended to reach farmers more effectively, enabling higher productivity, better sugar recovery, improved resilience and more sustainable sugarcane cultivation. Through this farmer-centric approach, the partnership seeks to contribute to strengthening the entire sugarcane value chain while supporting the long-term sustainability and profitability of the sector.
A particularly significant aspect of this initiative is the co-funding participation of the sugar industry, bringing together public agricultural research institutions and industry stakeholders for a common objective. This collaboration represents an important model of scientific and industry partnership, combining research excellence, technical capabilities, practical industry experience and farmer-centric objectives to address the future needs of Indian sugarcane cultivation.
NFCSF President Shri Harshvardhan Patil and NFCSF Managing Director Shri Prakash Naiknavare continue to emphasise the importance of strengthening sugarcane development, scientific research, technology adoption and farmer-centric innovation for the growth of the cooperative sugar sector. Through this strategic collaboration with ICAR, ISEC and ISMA, NFCSF remains committed to supporting innovation and modernisation across the sugarcane value chain and contributing towards a stronger, sustainable and future-ready Cooperative Sugar Industry.
From Science to the Field. From Innovation to Impact. From Better Sugarcane to Greater Farmer Prosperity.
NFCSF Strengthening Cooperative Sugar. Driving Innovation. Empowering Farmers
