Pune: BAIF (Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation) Development Research Foundation and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, have formalized a strategic partnership through the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at BAIF’s Central Research Station in Uruli Kanchan, Pune, on June 15, 2026.
The MoU was exchanged between Dr. Bharat Kakade, President and Managing Trustee, BAIF, and Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-NIIST.
The partnership marks a significant step toward collaborative research, innovation, technology validation, and capacity building in areas critical to sustainable development.
A major focus of the collaboration between BAIF and CSIR-NIIST will be the advancement of agrivoltaics, an emerging field that combines solar energy generation with agricultural production.
CSIR-NIIST has been developing innovative agrivoltaic technologies aimed at optimizing solar energy generation while enhancing agricultural productivity through advanced solar panel configurations and light-management approaches.
As one of the early adopters of agrivoltaics in India, BAIF has conducted field-scale studies on various agrivoltaic systems and their impact on crop productivity and farm sustainability.
Through this partnership, both organizations will collaborate on field validation, demonstration, and deployment of agrivoltaic technologies across diverse agro-climatic regions of the country.
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Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan said: “This partnership with BAIF represents a convergence of scientific innovation and grassroots impact.
By combining CSIR-NIIST’s technological expertise with BAIF’s extensive field network and experience in rural development, we aim to accelerate the adoption of sustainable technologies that support climate-resilient agriculture, renewable energy generation, and improved rural livelihoods.”
During his visit, Dr. Anandharamakrishnan toured BAIF’s research facilities, field demonstrations, and laboratories.
Discussions between the two institutions identified several additional areas for collaboration, including vegan leather technology, green technologies, wastewater treatment and reuse, agricultural waste management, biomass valorization, AI-enabled drone technologies for soil, water, and crop management, and waste-to-wealth solutions.
The identified waste-to-wealth initiatives include the development of biodegradable plastics, eco-friendly packaging materials, agricultural mulch, and biodegradable cutlery.
These focus areas align with the shared objective of BAIF and CSIR-NIIST to develop scalable and sustainable solutions for rural and agricultural ecosystems.
Established in 1967 by Dr. Manibhai Desai, a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, BAIF is one of India’s leading rural development organizations.
The institution has built a strong legacy in sustainable agriculture, livestock development, natural resource management, and livelihood enhancement.
Through its extensive grassroots presence and community-centric approach, BAIF has played a significant role in driving rural transformation across the country.
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The MoU exchange took place in the presence of senior scientists and officials from both organizations. Attendees included Dr. Jayant Khadse, Vice President – Livestock Development and Scientific Research, BAIF; Pramod Takawale, Programme Director – Agricultural Research, BAIF; Dr. Adersh Ashok, Senior Scientist, CSIR-NIIST; along with scientists and research teams from both institutions.
The strategic partnership is expected to accelerate the development and deployment of scalable solutions in agrivoltaics, circular bioeconomy, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, water management, and rural development.
The collaboration is also expected to contribute significantly to India’s sustainability, climate action, and rural prosperity goals.
