On Thursday, October 01, 2026, the Foundation for Agrarian Studies (FAS), in collaboration with Monash University, Australia, and ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), organised a one-day consultation in Bengaluru. The consultation was part of the research project, “SPIA Country-Level Stocktaking Exercise in South India,” funded by CGIAR-Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA). The project aims to comprehensively document CGIAR-related innovations in South India since 2000.

The project aims to systematically identify and document the CGIAR-related innovations in South India, which culminated in the preparation of a draft longlist of innovations. The objective of the consultation was to present the stocktake process and the draft longlist; to solicit feedback and experts’ inputs on the scale of adoption, area covered, and evidence of adoption; and to gather suggestions and inputs on potential criteria for shortlisting innovations.

The consultation began with an introductory session chaired by Prof. V. K. Ramachandran (Former Professor, Indian Statistical Institute and Trustee, FAS, Bengaluru), followed by welcome addresses by Prof. Madhura Swaminathan (Former Professor and Head, Economic Analysis Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Bengaluru, and Trustee, FAS) and Dr. Gaurav Datt (Associate Professor, Monash University, Australia). Dr. Monica Biradavolu (SPIA member; CEO and founder of QualAnalytics) and Dr. Shilpa Aggarwal (SPIA member; Associate Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad) introduced SPIA Country Studies, drawing evidence from Ethiopia, Uganda, Vietnam and Bangladesh. Dr. Sandipan Baksi (Director, FAS) presented on South India Country Studies, particularly the steps and methodology undertaken to compile the comprehensive list of innovations.

The main deliberations were conducted through two sessions chaired by experts and members of the Advisory Committee. Session I, focusing on crop improvement, was chaired by Prof. K. C. Bansal (Former Director, ICAR-NBPGR, and Adjunct Professor, Murdoch University, Australia) and Prof. Jiju P. Alex (Director of Extension, Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Thrissur, Keralam). Session II, which covered aquaculture, digital advisory tools, seed production techniques and machinery and agronomic practices, and policy contributions, was chaired by Shri. P. C. Mohanan (Former Acting Chairman, National Statistical Commission, Government of India) and Dr. V. Surjit (Associate Professor and Head, Centre for Agrarian Studies, National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Hyderabad).

A reporting session was convened and chaired by Dr. James George (Former Director, ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (ICAR-CTCRI), Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam), during which the Chairs of both the sessions presented consolidated summaries of the discussions of the sessions. This was followed by a plenary discussion on the way forward. The consultation concluded with formal closing remarks and a vote of thanks.

The consultation was attended by scientists and administrators from several NARES-ICAR institutes and State Agricultural Universities, as well as participants from CGIAR centres operating in India and CGIAR-SPIA. Participants offered valuable feedback, methodological insights, and suggestions on data sources relating to the scale of adoption of different innovations, which will help the project team prepare the final longlist and shortlist of innovations.