In Agriculture Revolution 4.0 Food Will Be Made in Factories: Dr. Devinder Sharma

India’s green revolution transitions to the agricultural revolution, involving a significant shift towards food manufacturing in factories.

RANCHI – India is transitioning from the green revolution to the agricultural revolution (AR) 4.0, where technology will dominate and food will be manufactured in factories, according to food and trade policy analyst and agricultural scientist Dr. Devinder Sharma.

Sharma delivered a keynote address on "How is food systems transformation occurring in India in reality?" during the first session of the second Food System dialogue that took place on Tuesday in Ranchi.

"We are transitioning from the green revolution to the agricultural revolution where technology will rule and food will be processed in factories," said Sharma, a master’s degree holder in plant breeding and genetics.

Sharma emphasized the need for a system that prioritizes farmers and the selling of agricultural goods. Currently, the food system is concentrating in the hands of billionaires who will control it, he warned.

Saryu Roy, a former Jharkhand food supply and consumer affairs minister and current MLA for Jamshedpur East, stressed the importance of agriculture for sustainability. He advocated for agriculture and associated services to be prioritized and ensuring that farmers can compete on an equal footing in the global market.

Kavitha Kuruganti, the founding convenor of the Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA), echoed Sharma’s sentiment, adding that food producers are also consumers. She highlighted the need to restore food diversity due to the increasing threat of climate change.

The outcomes of the discussion will contribute to the UN Food Systems Summit’s Food Systems Stocktaking Moment, which will take place from July 24 to July 26 in Rome, Italy. The event aims to create momentum for sustainable food systems and increase public awareness of them.

The event’s sponsors were Welthungerhilfe (WHH), Bhoomi Ka, The RRA Network, Caritas India, National Law School University (NLSU), and Phia Foundation.