First quarter of the year always flies by in a whisker, bringing us to realize that soon we transition into a new season where the fields start to awaken, and nature reminds us of its ever-changing boundless variations and extremes globally. This reminder of agriculture and the need for sustainability, along with the drive to keep pushing the boundaries of sustainable farming practices keeps us moving forward. We are on the brink of a new season—one filled with fresh opportunities to seek transformative innovations and technologies.

I am very excited to bring you this special India edition of BAW Digest. India, and Asia at large, are at the cusp of becoming the epicenter of food safety and food security. This is due to the sheer size of the population that must be fed sustainably, as well as the millions of small farmers who rely on farming as their main source of income. We can only achieve that with full support from key industry leaders and policy makers, both globally and regionally. In this issue, we have gained support of all the relevant stakeholders engaged in sustainable farming practices integrating BioAgTech solutions. It is evident that the Indian BioAg industry is gaining momentum, driven by a shared vision of sustainability, profitability and food security. The energy in this space is infectious, and what is most exciting is that we are not just witnessing change—we are shaping it together as a BioAg community.

Our India edition of the BAW Digest also coincides with BAW Congress (April 23–25, 2025) taking place in New Delhi, India. Each year, the BioAgTech World Congress & Expo moves continents, still maintaining truly global scope, but with deep regional insights and spotlight on a different part of the world. This year, we focus on India, a nation and a region experiencing rapid advancements in sustainable agriculture. One of the most critical aspects of India’s BioAg industry is scalability. While farmers, mostly small, are increasingly open to adopting biopesticides, biofertilizers and biostimulants, widespread adoption still faces challenges. Awareness, regulatory harmonization and distribution remain key hurdles that must be addressed to unlock the full potential of biologicals. One such idea can be India’s cooperative movement for sustainable agriculture. In this edition, we featured a leading startup and farmers practicing BioAg. This initiative can have a huge multiplier impact for small farmers.

Encouragingly, the government of India has been proactive in promoting sustainable agriculture and recent policy reforms that streamline approvals for bio-based inputs. Growing concerns over soil health and residue-free produce have prompted farmers as well as companies to integrate biologicals, signaling a shift from conventional chemicals to sustainable solutions.

By bringing together key stakeholders such as industry leaders, innovators, policy makers and business executives, the BAW Congress & Expo provides a platform to address these challenges and drive meaningful progress.

While today we focus on India, we also look ahead to 2026 when the Congress will be hosted in Valencia, Spain. As you may know, we are building a global BioAg community and our events, magazine and academy are organized with local partners. Likewise, we are organizing the BAW Congress in Valencia in partnership with Valencia, Spain and the European community. Our heart, as family, goes out to the Valencia communities, where the recent floods have devastated farmlands in the region, leaving many farmers struggling to rebuild their livelihoods. We would like to express our solidarity and support through the Sustainable Recovery Fund Drive for Valencia Farmers. This initiative reflects our commitment to sustainability, not just in theory, but in action, by directly assisting those who produce the food that sustains us all. Through this fund, we aim to support recovery efforts, ensuring that Valencia’s agricultural community can restore its fields and continue to thrive. If you are interested in joining us in helping to rebuild Valencia, please visit the BioAgTech World Congress & Expo website.

In this special India edition of BioAg World Digest, alongside our routine features, we also engaged in meaningful conversations with distinguished industry leaders giving us the opportunity to bring you the interviews of industry visionaries like Martin Andermatt, Dr. Suresh Prabhu, Pedro Peleato, Sandeepa Kanitkar, Narjisee Mahmoudi, and Christina Coen. Additionally, we share with you the insightful editorials from Giuseppe Natale and Amy O’Shea. This issue highlights the story of Andermatt as biological pioneers when the word biological was considered theory. We are also celebrating 50th anniversary of Proalan, an innovator in amino acids.

Last but not the least, the momentum behind BioAg is stronger than ever, and India’s role in this transformation is undeniable. As the industry continues to evolve, stakeholders must work together to create an ecosystem that supports innovation, enhances accessibility and ensures sustainable growth. The future of agriculture is to adopt sustainable farming practices with focus on farmers’ income and integrating BioAgTech innovations, and the time to act is now. Together, as a community, we can turn this shared vision into reality.

I am thrilled to announce that, for the first time ever, BioAg World Digest is going to print! This special edition marks a significant milestone as we expand our reach beyond digital, bringing valuable insights into the hands of our global BioAg community. Printed copies will be available at the BAW Congress registration desk, included in the official Congress bags for those interested. We cannot wait for you to experience this issue in print!