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Transforming agri-food systems through data-driven technologies: lessons from India’s NAREES

Data-driven technologies are enabling rapid changes in agricultural food production systems. They have the potential to transform farming methods and bring about sustainable resource management, increased levels of productivity, sustainability, and efficiency. For the last seven decades, India’s National and State Agricultural Research, Education and Extension System (NAREES) has facilitated the improvement of agricultural production for achieving food security in India. With its inherent advantage of reach across the country, it can also play an important role in catalysing the deployment of data-driven technologies and innovations in agri-food production systems. This Policy Brief presents a model for NAREES to adopt and use data-driven technologies for building a sustainable agri-based economy in India. It recommends that this base model be extended across other G20 countries with similar ecosystems.