New Delhi, April 9: The Amity Institute of Horticulture Studies and Research (AIHSR), in collaboration with the Amity Institute of Organic Agriculture (AIOA) under the aegis of the Amity Food & Agriculture Foundation (AFAF), organized the 3rd International Conference on Recent Advances in Horticulture Research (ICRAHOR-2026). The conference was held under the theme “Next-Generation Horticulture: Technology, Sustainability and Innovation Driven Future of Farming.”
Addressing the inaugural session, Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Horticulture Commissioner, Government of India, emphasized the critical role of science and technology in advancing the horticulture sector. He stated,
“New value chains must be created, and academic institutions must develop zero-waste technologies, post-harvest innovations, and food processing solutions to address both immediate and long-term challenges in the sector.”
Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Education Group, highlighted the importance of research and youth engagement in agriculture, saying,
“Innovation in this sector will accelerate India’s path to becoming a global superpower by 2047. Amity is committed to nurturing future leaders who will drive this transformation.”
Dr. Meenakshi Singh, Chief Scientist, CSIR HQ, New Delhi, underscored the need for research-led solutions, stating,
“Innovation, entrepreneurship, and novel ideas are crucial to reduce food wastage, improve shelf-life, and enhance productivity in horticulture.”
Dr. W. Selvamurthy, President, Amity Science Technology and Innovation Foundation (ASTIF), noted,
“Through collaborative research aligned with the National Agricultural Mission, this conference will drive the transformation of horticulture towards higher productivity, resilience, and profitability.”
Welcoming participants, Dr. Nutan Kaushik, Director General, AFAF, added,
“ICRAHOR-2026 provides students and researchers a platform to explore innovative solutions, adopt technological trends, and contribute to the sustainable growth of the horticulture sector.”
The two-day conference featured technical sessions on diverse topics including:
- Breeding and Biotechnological Innovation in Horticulture
- Digital Horticulture and Smart Farming
- Post-Harvest Management, Value-Addition, and Zero-Waste Horticulture
- Climate-Resilient Horticulture, Urban & Backyard Farming
Additionally, participants engaged in the Young Horti Entrepreneur Pitch Competition and Poster Presentations, encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship, and knowledge exchange in the horticulture ecosystem.
