Inaugural function of the 20th International Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.
Sanjay Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Sciences), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), has underscored the need to promote diversified food systems over monocropping, with a focus on zero waste and full utilisation of plant parts.
Dr. Singh was inaugurating the 20th International Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC) on ‘Tropical Root and Tuber Crops for Nutrition, Agrifood Systems, Resilience, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability (ISTRTC 4 NARES)’ here on Monday. The symposium is organised by the ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) in collaboration with the Indian Society for Root Crops (ISRC).
Dr. Singh highlighted the critical role of tropical root and tuber crops in addressing the global agrarian crisis and climate change. He emphasised their significance in ensuring food and nutritional security and supporting entrepreneurship development. Root crops and banana remain integral to backyard farming systems in tropical regions, he said.
Since 1967
The five-day symposium marks the 20th edition of a series that began in 1967 at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. India is hosting the symposium for the second time, having previously hosted the 14th edition in 2006.
Lateef O. Sanni, president, International Society for Tropical Root Crops, and executive director, Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, outlined the vision of ISTRC and emphasised the importance of tuber crops and banana as staple foods in Sub-Saharan Africa.
ICAR-CTCRI director G. Byju stressed the shared international commitment to improving food security through enhanced production and value chain development of tropical tubers.
Award
A.N. Jyothi, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CTCRI, received the ISRC Fellow 2025 Award on the occasion. Jinimol and M. Nedunchezhiyan received the Dr. A. Abraham Award for the best papers published in the Journal of Root Crops. A special issue of Kerala Karshakan (e-ournal) themed on tropical tuber crops was also released on the occasion.
R. Selvarajan, Director, ICAR–National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirappalli; Hugo Campos, Deputy Director General – Science and Innovation, International Potato Centre, Peru; Michael Abberton, Director, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, West Africa Hub; Andrew Westby, Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Research and Knowledge Exchange, University of Greenwich; and Jan W. Low, World Food Laureate, addressed the gathering.
The event brings together scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, students and farmers.
Published – November 17, 2025 07:23 pm IST
