COIMBATORE: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Sugarcane Breeding Institute (ICAR–SBI), Coimbatore, marked its 115th Foundation Day on Tuesday, with Dr Himanshu Pathak, director general of International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, attending as chief guest.Addressing the event, Dr Pathak said the institute’s legacy predates the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and its impact reaches “every Indian household” through sugar. He said more than 80% of India’s sugarcane area is cultivated with ICAR–SBI’s ‘Co’ varieties, highlighting its role in national sugar security.Dr Pathak urged scientists and staffers to pursue selfless, duty-bound work. “Agriculture today faces a changed context driven by advances in science and technology, shifting climate, soil and water constraints, and evolving societal expectations,” he said. He called for innovative, practical research solutions to emerging challenges.Dr Pathak flagged collaboration potential between ICRISAT and ICAR–SBI to accelerate sugarcane improvement using advanced genomics, artificial intelligence, precision phenotyping and climate-resilient breeding. He said sugarcane’s value extends beyond sugar to energy, feed, fuel and pharmaceuticals, and noted the scope for AI tools, including in agricultural extension, alongside new research approaches.In his presidential address, ICAR–SBI director P Govindaraj said the institute released three sugarcane varieties in the previous year: Co 18003, a high-quality variety for Peninsular India; Co 21003, a high-yielding variety for Tamil Nadu; and Co 18022, a mid-late maturing variety for the North West Zone.Dr Pathak presented the Sir T S Venkataraman Awards for outstanding research in sugarcane agriculture and the best thesis award for the biennium 2024–25, issued Foundation Day Certificates of Appreciation and released new institute publications. The event drew over 300 participants, including serving and retired staff.
