India and US formalise knowledge initiative on agriculture

India and the United States recently signed a joint declaration formalising an India-US Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture (KIA). The objective of the Initiative is to re-energize the agricultural relationship between the two countries through collaborative efforts by promoting teaching, research, service and commercial linkages to address contemporary challenges.

The areas of collaboration are expected to include agricultural research on sustainable agriculture and marketing systems, the use of new information and communication technologies, implementation of international food safety and sanitary and phyto-sanitary requirements and other priority areas.

Agriculture departments of both countries anticipate that this Initiative will be coordinated through group participation hereafter referred to as the 'Knowledge Initiative Board' consisting of two Co-Chairs and seven individuals selected by USDA and seven by the Indian Ministry of Agriculture.

Tags: agricultural information india usa