BRICS agriculture ministers adopted the Indore Declaration on June 13, 2026, during a summit in Indore, India. The agreement establishes four new global networks focused on digital farming, seed rights, and regenerative agriculture to enhance food security and support smallholder farmers across member nations.
Under India’s 2026 presidency, the BRICS bloc has shifted its agricultural strategy toward a coordinated, tech-driven approach to food security. The resulting agreement marks a move toward institutionalizing cooperation through specific networks rather than broad diplomatic pledges.
Four New Global Networks for Agricultural Innovation
The core of the Indore Declaration is the creation of four distinct platforms designed to bridge the gap between laboratory research and field application. Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized that these initiatives must translate into action on the ground
to benefit rural communities.
- BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture: This network targets cooperation in artificial intelligence, geospatial technologies, and data-driven solutions. IIT Delhi will coordinate the effort, serving as a bridge between emerging tech and farmer benefits.
- Global Forum on Farmers’ Rights in Seed Systems: Focused on preserving traditional knowledge and indigenous seed diversity, this forum addresses the existential threats facing biodiversity.
- BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Agro-Ecology and Regenerative Agriculture: A platform for joint research in organic and natural farming. The Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, will act as India’s Centre of Excellence.
- BRICS AgriN (Agro Inputs, Genetic Resources and Information Network): This network facilitates the exchange of superior seed varieties and genetic resources, specifically targeting farmers with limited access to such information.
Empowering Smallholders, Women, and Youth
The summit, themed Smallholder Farmers, Women and Youth: Securing the Future of Food
, centered on the economic vulnerability of the BRICS farming population. The scale of the challenge is significant: around 70 per cent of farmers in BRICS countries own less than two hectares of land.
“In India, 86 per cent of farmers are smallholders. Around 70 per cent of farmers in BRICS countries own less than two hectares of land.”
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development
Beyond land ownership, the ministers deliberated on increasing the participation of women, who have traditionally contributed significantly to the sector. There is a parallel push to attract young people to agriculture through the adoption of innovation, which officials believe will increase food production and strengthen global nutritional security.
Indonesian Strategic Interests and Market Access
For Indonesia, the Indore Declaration is as much about trade as it is about technology. The Indonesian Agriculture Ministry noted that the agreement opens strategic opportunities for research and technology transfer via the BRICS Agricultural Research Platform (BARP).
A critical component for Jakarta is the alignment of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards and digital certification. By harmonizing these measures, Indonesia aims to improve the competitiveness and market access of its agricultural products in international markets.
“BRICS countries also encouraged stronger cooperation in food safety, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards and measures, as well as digital certification. Such cooperation could help improve market access and the competitiveness of Indonesian agricultural products in international markets.”
Indonesian Agriculture Ministry statement
Climate Resilience and Post-Harvest Management
The bloc is expanding its scope beyond crop production to include the entire food supply chain. Member nations agreed to expand cooperation in livestock technology, animal health, fisheries, and aquaculture. To combat food loss, the declaration emphasizes post-harvest management, storage, cold-chain systems and food loss reduction.
This systemic approach is paired with a commitment to agroecology. Minister Chouhan highlighted that while hybrid varieties are necessary for yield, the preservation of indigenous seeds is equally vital for long-term food security in the face of climate change.
From Laboratories to Fields: The Knowledge-to-Action Hub
A recurring theme of the Indore meetings was the failure of research to reach the actual producer. To solve this, the BRICS countries agreed to transform the existing BRICS Agricultural Research Platform into a Knowledge-to-Action Hub
.
The goal is to ensure that innovations in AI and regenerative farming do not remain confined to academic circles. By creating a direct pipeline from research to the field, the bloc intends to scale solutions that benefit a larger number of countries and farmers simultaneously.
While the framework is now established, the success of the Indore Declaration depends on whether these four networks can move beyond diplomatic agreements into functional, cross-border technical exchanges. The immediate next step involves the operationalization of the coordinated efforts at IIT Delhi and the Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research.
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