LUCKNOW, Feb. 27 -- The three-day AgroTech 2026 - an agri-business and technology conference - was inaugurated at the ICAR-Indian Sugarcane Research Institute (ISRI) on Thursday. The event brought together policymakers, scientists, industry leaders, international delegates and progressive farmers to accelerate agriculture through innovation, investment and global partnerships. The inaugural session witnessed the presence of senior leadership of the government of Uttar Pradesh, ambassadors of nations, eminent scientists and heads of premier research institutions. Ghanshyam Khandelwal, chairman, BL Agro and ICFA's UP Agriculture Council, said, "Global AgroTech is a milestone for Indian agriculture. Our focus is to unite stakeholders to strengthen value chains, modernise dairy, expand agri-finance and promote technology-led farming. This platform reflects our commitment to building an integrated, intelligence-driven agricultural ecosystem for UP." Addressing the gathering, Dinesh Pratap Singh, minister (independent charge), horticulture, agri marketing & exports, underlined UP's push for agri-innovation, value addition and export-led growth. Brajesh Pathak, deputy chief minister, highlighted diversification into high-value crops, modern infrastructure and robust value chains as key to sustainable and inclusive growth. Mukesh Singh, chairman, Indo American Chamber of Commerce and former chair ICFA, UP, highlighted importance of strong industry participation in driving agri growth. The global character of AgroTech 2026 was reinforced by addresses from Juan Carlos Marsan Aguilera, ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, and Eric Camille N'Dry, ambassador of Cote d'Ivoire, alongside the felicitation of a Brazilian delegation signalling expanding international collaboration. Senior officials and scientists, including Ravinder, Dinesh Singh (director, ICAR-ISRI), and Sanjay Singh (director-general, UPCAR), shared perspectives on research-led development and technology integration. htc...