Brief: $2bn ‘integrated ag parks’ to be established in India to tackle global food insecurity

• India, Israel, the UAE, and the US have announced a collaborative project to establish “integrated agricultural parks across India” in order to address the mounting global food security crisis.
• Speaking at a summit of the four governments today, US President Joe Biden said the ag parks have “the potential to sustainably increase India’s food yields in the region [of] threefold in just five years.”
• The UAE is investing $2 billion into the project, which will be supported by “American and Israeli private sector experts,” according to Biden.

Why it matters:

Reuters reports that the ag parks aim to “bring farmers, processors, and retailers together using advanced climate technology to minimize waste, conserve water, and maximize crop yields.”

Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said the ag parks will help reduce barriers for Indian exporters and harmonize food safety standards with trade partners.

The ag parks will initially cultivate bananas, onions, potatoes, rice, and spices, he added.

India is one of the world’s top food exporters. It is the second-leading grower of rice and wheat, as well as the second-biggest producer of fruits and vegetables in general. Around 80% of the rural population work in agriculture; but yields remain low, and wastage high, due to various inefficiencies.

Disruption to food supply chains wrought by the Russo-Ukrainian War is forcing countries to rapidly reassess their reliance on traditional import sources (both Russia and Ukraine are also among the top 10 wheat-producing countries.)

“All these issues require cooperation and coordination, and none of us can mount a comprehensive response on our own,” Biden said.