Round Table Discussion
Healing Soils in India: For Better Crop Health and Human Nutrition
Date: January 27, 2026 | Venue: Magnolia Hall, India Habitat Center, Delhi

Agenda

10:00 – 10:30 hrs: Registration and Tea/Coffee

10:30 – 12:00 hrs: Session I: Inaugural
Welcome Remarks by
Dr Shekhar Aiyar, Director & CE, ICRIER

Introduction to the Topic by
Dr Ashok Gulati, Distinguished Professor, ICRIER

Keynote Address by
Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayog

Special Address by
Dr M.L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and DG, ICAR

Special Remarks by
Mr Rajat Kumar Mishra, Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Fertilisers

Release of the Report by Dr Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayog

Brief Presentation on “Healing Soils in India: For Better Crop Health and Human Nutrition” by Ritika Juneja and Biswabara Sahu (ICRIER)

12:00 – 12:10 hrs: Tea/Coffee

12:10 – 13:10 hrs: Session II: Linking Soil Health to Crop Health and Human Nutrition

Session Chair:
Mr Suresh Gupta, Former JS, D/o of Chemicals and Fertilisers

Speakers:
 Dr Debashis Mandal, Professor, Soil Science, IARI on “Linking Soil Health with Crop Health”
 Dr Deepti Gulati, Senior Advisor, TechnoServe on “Impact of Crop Health on Human Nutrition”

13:10 – 14:00 hrs: Lunch

14:00 – 15:00 hrs: Session III: Precision Nutrient Management, Speciality Fertilisers and Innovations

Session Chair:
Dr Rahul Mirchandani, Chairman & MD, Aries Agro Ltd. and President, Indian Micro-fertilizers Manufacturers Association (IMMA)

Speakers:
 Dr Leonardus Vergutz, Chief Scientific Officer, OCP Nutricrops
 Mr Praveen Chauhan, Business Head, Crop Protection & Specialty Nutrients, Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd.
 Dr Mahadev Suvarna, Senior Vice President, Specialty Plant Nutrition, DCM Shriram Ltd
 Mr Palanisamy Velusamy, Chief Manufacturing Officer and Unit Head, Paradeep Phosphates Limited

15:00 – 15:10 hrs: Tea/Coffee

15:10 – 16:10 hrs: Session IV: Soil Health Testing for Improving Products and Practices

Session Chair:
Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh, Professor, IIT Kanpur

Speakers:
 Dr Prafull Prabhakar Gadge, Founder & CEO Biome Technologies Private Limited
 Mr S. Baskar Reddy, Senior Advisor, Syngenta Foundation India and Global Agri-Entrepreneur Academy
 Mr Rajat Vardhan, CEO, ScaNxt
 Dr. Rajul S. Patkar, Soilsens

Closing Remarks and Vote of Thanks by
Dr Ashok Gulati, Distinguished Professor, ICRIER

16:10 – 16:40 hrs: Media Briefing