Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) hosts conference with support from Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV), Germany and Conexio-PSE

Calls for transforming India’s Annadatas into Urjadatas through innovation-driven agrivoltaics

The 7th edition of the AgriVoltaics World Conference (AWC) 2026 commenced today at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, marking a definitive milestone in the country’s efforts to integrate agriculture and renewable energy. This premier global summit is being hosted in the Global South for the first time in India, firmly reinforcing India’s expanding stewardship in concurrently advancing global food security, energy self-reliance, and sustainable development.

The prestigious three-day conference is being hosted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), with support from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV), Germany, and organised in partnership with Conexio-PSE under the theme “Powering the Global South.”

The conference embodies the foundational vision of “From Power to Empower” championed by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He noted that India’s clean energy transition is actively redefining the agrarian paradigm, enabling farmers to transcend traditional boundaries as raw-food producers (Annadatas) and emerge as pioneering clean-energy producers (Urjadatas).Hon’ble Prime Minister emphasised that India’ clean energy transition has unlocked unprecedented avenues to expand rural entrepreneurial ecosystems, optimise financial models, and cultivate long-term economic resilience across the country and called upon international stakeholders, scientists, and industry leaders to collaboratively scale precision agrivoltaics solutions that multiply farmer incomes whilst accelerating the transition to clean energy.

The opening ceremony on Day 1 began with the welcome of dignitaries and lighting of the ceremonial lamp, followed by welcome and opening remarks by Shri Santosh K. Sarangi, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). A conference video was screened, setting the context for the three-day gathering and its focus on “Powering the Global South.”

The opening ceremony programme included addresses by Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Education and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, followed by a video message from Mr. Carsten Schneider, Federal Minister for Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany. Special closing remarks from Dr. Jasper Wieck, Ambassador of Germany to India and Bhutan. Present on the occasion was Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy and Power.

The formal launch segment featured three knowledge resources: the Decision-Making Tool developed by the India Agrivoltaics Alliance (IAA), the Book of Abstracts developed by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), and the AgriPV Policy Handbook from MNRE.

The conference has brought together over 1200+ delegates, including 150+ foreign participants, comprising international experts, policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, innovators, start-ups and development partners. The event provides a platform for knowledge exchange, technology collaboration and South-South cooperation. The above participation demonstrates a highly integrated governance strategy to align energy self-reliance with agricultural security.

The event featured Comprehensive Ecosystem Integration with regard to Science, Policy, and Innovation. Under this, the programme includes a dedicated India Focus Track alongside two parallel scientific tracks. Discussions across the conference will address innovation, state leadership, crop productivity, policy frameworks, financing models, technology deployment, climate resilience and farmer-centric business models.

Furthermore, a dedicated startup and innovation platform – featuring an interactive AgriVoltaics Pitch Hub – is actively showcasing next-generation technological solutions, bridging the gap among clean-tech innovators, start-ups, venture capitalists, and global industry leaders.

Agrivoltaics offers a transformative opportunity to mitigate rural underemployment, foster local entrepreneurship, increase farmers’ incomes, protect crop microclimates, and secure sustainable livelihoods against the escalating vagaries of climate change through the dual use of land for food and clean energy. Delegates at the conference highlighted the role of agrivoltaics in building climate-resilient agriculture and creating sustainable livelihoods in rural India.

The proceedings collectively underscored that the future of agriculture lies at the intersection of clean energy and digital technology. Agrivoltaics represents a monumental transition in India from conventional agriculture to techno-agriculture, combining solar energy with precision farming, smart irrigation, digital technologies, and innovative business models.

The 7th AgriVoltaics World Conference is expected to decisively accelerate international collaboration, cementing India’s role at the vanguard of engineering a resilient, sustainable future for global food and energy systems.