The Indore Declaration, unanimously adopted on 13 June 2026 during the 16th BRICS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting in India, sets out an ambitious framework for strengthening cooperation on sustainable agriculture, food security, climate resilience, and agricultural innovation. Bringing together the BRICS member countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, the UAE, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia), the Declaration reflects a growing recognition that many of today's agricultural challenges require coordinated international responses.
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One of the Declaration's central achievements is the creation of four new cooperation platforms designed to move beyond political commitments and promote practical collaboration. Among these, the BRICS Network of Centers of Excellence on Agro-Ecology and Regenerative Agriculture will support joint research, knowledge exchange, and capacity building on sustainable farming systems. Coordinated by India's Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, the initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of agroecological and regenerative practices while strengthening scientific cooperation across diverse agricultural regions.
Digital innovation also features prominently. The new BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture, coordinated by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, will promote the use of artificial intelligence, geospatial technologies, digital public infrastructure, and data-driven solutions to improve agricultural decision-making. By facilitating better access to information, the initiative seeks to support farmers, reduce information asymmetries, and encourage the development of innovative agri-tech solutions across BRICS countries.
The Declaration also places considerable emphasis on preserving agricultural biodiversity through the establishment of a Global Forum on Farmers' Rights in Seed Systems. The initiative will promote the conservation of indigenous seed varieties, safeguard traditional agricultural knowledge, and strengthen farmers' rights to save, exchange, and reuse seeds. Protecting genetic diversity is increasingly recognized as an important component of climate adaptation, helping agriculture remain resilient to droughts, floods, pests, and other environmental pressures.
Another important pillar is the launch of BRICS AgriN, an information-sharing network dedicated to agricultural inputs, genetic resources, and best farming practices. At a time when geopolitical tensions continue to affect global fertilizer and agricultural input markets, strengthening cooperation on resilient supply chains has become a strategic priority for many countries.
Throughout the Declaration, climate change and food security emerge as cross-cutting priorities. The ministers committed to enhancing cooperation on climate adaptation, early warning systems, and sustainable agricultural practices that can improve resilience while maintaining productivity. By combining research, innovation, digital technologies, and international cooperation, the Indore Declaration represents an important step towards building more resilient agricultural systems capable of supporting global food security while protecting natural resources, including healthy soils, for future generations.
More information available at:BRICS Indore Declaration 2026- https://infobrics.org/files/country/russia/documents/2026/agriculture/2026_06_13_Joint_Declaration_of_the_16th_Meeting_of_BRICS_Ministers_of_Agriculture.pdf