Dr Himanshu Pathak
Director General , ICRISAT
Dr Himanshu Pathak is currently the Director General of International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Hyderabad and President of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi. Earlier, he served as Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Government of India; Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research; chaired the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board; and Director of ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management in Maharashtra and ICAR-Central Rice Research Institute in Odisha.
Dr Pathak has over 33 years of experience in the global agricultural landscape, particualry in the areas of climate resilience, soil and crop management, and sustainable agricultural systems. He holds a Ph.D. in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi and held prestigious fellowships and international research positions has held prestigious fellowships and international research positions including the Humboldt Fellowship in Germany, and visiting scientist in United Kingdom, Australia, Philippines, and Ethiopia.. He has published over 200 research papers and 20 books with more than 32,100 citations and 310 i-10 index.
ABSTRACT
Centre of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture
Achieving food security and climate resilience at scale requires more than scientific breakthroughs. It demands effective mechanisms that enable countries to share, adapt, and scale proven agricultural innovations across diverse agroecological and socio-economic contexts. While many technologies have demonstrated success, their broader impact is often constrained by fragmented partnerships, limited institutional capacity, and weak pathways for cross-border collaboration.
The ICRISAT Centre of Excellence for South–South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA) was established to address this challenge. Building on ICRISAT’s extensive experience in agricultural research for development, ISSCA serves as a collaborative platform that accelerates the exchange, adaptation, and scaling of proven innovations among countries facing similar food security, climate, and development challenges. Through partnerships with CGIAR centres, National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems (NARS), governments, development agencies, academia, and the private sector, ISSCA connects scientific innovation with local needs, policy priorities, and investment opportunities.
Grounded in the principles of South–South cooperation, shared ownership, and mutual learning, ISSCA transforms isolated initiatives into coordinated regional action. Its growing network of partners facilitates technology transfer, capacity strengthening, institutional learning, and the co-creation of scalable solutions that enhance agricultural productivity, resilience, and livelihoods.
Drawing on practical experiences from Asia and Africa, ISSCA demonstrates how South–South cooperation can be translated into tangible development outcomes. By facilitating the exchange, adaptation, and scaling of proven agricultural innovations, it strengthens regional research and innovation partnerships and creates pathways for collaborative learning and capacity enhancement. Through these efforts, it contributes to stronger regional integration, enhanced food system resilience, and long-term food and nutrition security.