A high level delegation led by Joint Secretary (Sugar), Ashwini Srivastava, Department of Food & Public Distribution, wherein the Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sugarcane Research Institute (SRI), Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, China. SRI-Nanning is the leading center for sugarcane research internationally and hosts several key laboratories, including the Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement and the Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi).
The collaboration marks a significant step toward facilitating joint sugarcane research, development, training and dissemination of knowledge/technology transfer, and the introduction of modern breeding tools aimed at enhancing sugarcane productivity, resilience, and sustainability in India.
Under the MoU, ISMA and SRI (GXAAS) will work together in the following key areas:
-Joint sugarcane research focusing on productivity enhancement, varietal improvement, and problem-solving for major agronomic challenges.
-Collaborative varietal development, including evaluation of promising clones
-Training and capacity building for scientists, field staff, and technical teams through workshops, expert visits, and hands-on learning programs.
-Dissemination of knowledge and best practices to support adoption of improved technologies at the field and factory level.
-Technology transfer including methodologies for rapid seed multiplication, disease-free planting material, and modern agronomic interventions.
-Introduction and application of modern breeding tools such as molecular breeding, genomic selection, and advanced biotechnology approaches.
-Strengthening research linkages between institutions to support long-term, sustainable development of the sugarcane sector.
Speaking on the occasion, ISMA noted that the partnership reflects its commitment to bringing global scientific expertise to India’s sugarcane sector. The collaboration with SRI (GXAAS), renowned for its breakthrough work in various aspects of sugarcane agriculture, including breeding, biotechnology, crop production, crop protection with a focus on commercially important traits like yield, sucrose content, and disease resistance and abiotic stress tolerance, is expected to accelerate India’s efforts to address challenges related to sugarcane productivity, disease vulnerability, and climate stress.
The MoU also aligns with India’s long-term vision of ensuring sustainable sugar and bio-energy production, supporting farmer incomes, and strengthening national ethanol blending targets through improved cane availability.
The ISMA delegation comprised senior leaders and experts from across India’s sugar sector, including Niraj Shirgaokar, Vice President of ISMA; Deepak Ballani, Director General of ISMA; Aditya Jhunjhunwala, Managing Director of K. M. Sugar Mills Ltd.; Roshan Lal Tamak, CEO of DCM Shriram Ltd.; M. Silvester Goldwin, Director of Kothari Sugars and Chemicals Ltd.; Vedang Pittie, Executive at Harinagar Sugar Mills Ltd.; Deep Malik, Director (Sugar & Ethanol) at ISMA; Sushil Solomon, Advisor at ISMA; and Govindaraj Perumal, Director of ICAR – Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore.
