21st International Crop Science Conference & Exhibition was held in Dubai

Date:2025/1/29

The 21st edition of flagship event of PMFAI ″International Crop Science Conference & Exhibition (ICSCE 2025 Dubai)″ took place in Dubai on 21 & 22 January 2025 at Le Meridien Hotel & Conference Centre, Dubai, UAE.

The two days’ event made an auspicious beginning with welcome address by PMFAI President Mr. Pradip Dave on 21st January 2025 morning. In his inaugural address, Mr. Dave highlighted the importance of the event and its significance, which has come a long way after the first event organised by PMFAI in 1997 in Mumbai.  ICSCE being an international trade platform facilitates business relationship between companies in the field of Agrochemicals, Agri biological and allied sectors. ICSCE is also an annual international event organized by PMFAI to improve the health of Generic Pesticide Industry and to bring researchers in the field of agriculture, pesticide manufacturers, agrochemical traders, agricultural biological industries and allied industries under one roof. 

The event witnessed strong industry presence with 106 leading companies showcasing their product portfolios during the two days of ICSCE 2025 held in Dubai. With over 1000 plus registered delegates’ participation, ICSCE 2025 was highly successful event. 

Inauguration of ICSCE 2025 Dubai

Delegates from countries all over the world including – Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, Georgia, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Malwai, Morocco, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Spain, Sudan, Syria, Turkiye, Tanzania, USA, UAE, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia and many other countries participated in the event.

In his Inaugural Address Mr. Pradip Dave, President, PMFAI mentioned about the importance of Agri Inputs industry in maintaining global food security. Mr. Dave mentioned that with  growing global population, increasing food production is paramount, and India plays a vital role in this endeavor. He highlighted the indispensable role of crop protection products in boosting agricultural and horticultural production. Mr. Dave highlighted the significant contributions of PMFAI and ICSCE in driving the development of the Indian Agrochemical sector and fostering exports from India.

Dr. Saliou Niassay, African Union and Market Coordinator of Inter-African Phyto Sanitary Council, African Union (of 55 nations) delivered the Keynote address focusing registration procedure in African Union.

In his keynote presentation, Dr.  Niassay mentioned that Agriculture is crucial in Africa and a primary food source, providing employment and sustenance for millions, especially in rural areas.  Cash crops and horticultural products contribute significantly to foreign exchange earnings and are, therefore, vital to the economies of many countries.

Although agriculture accounts for between 50% and 70% of employment in African countries, it contributes to only 15% of the total GDP, and Africa imports $35 billion of food annually. The sector needs to be strengthened to achieve sustainable development goals, eradicating hunger and poverty and facilitating trade.  Several challenges hinder Africa’s agricultural productivity like climate change, erratic rains, pests and pathogens, limited access to agri inputs, limited knowledge and sharing of good farming practices, land degradations etc.  which can be resolved by harmonizing the registration and management of plant protection products in Africa

The event also hosted renowned pesticide scientists and industry experts, who gave presentations on various important topics during the two days of the event, brief details of which are as given below:  

• India Agchem – Outlook 2025-  Opportunity & Challenges: Mr. Abhishek Aggarwal-  President & COO, Bharat Rasayan Ltd.  The presentation covered details on Import & Export status of India, manufacturing and market details.

• Nouryon Innovation Toolbox: Advanced Adjuvant And Formulation Aids for Emerging Trends In India: Mr. Ferry Hermawanto-Technical Service Manager,  Nouryon. The presentation covered emerging agricultural trends in India and how Nouryon’s innovative solutions address these evolving needs.

• Revolutionizing Agriculture: Ensuring Farmer Safety and Sustainability through Patented Effervescent Tablet Technology:  Dr. Yuvraj Patil, Chairman and Managing Director, BioFizz AgriTech Pvt Ltd.  The presentation focussed on effervescent tablet technology, a breakthrough that enhances the efficacy and sustainability of pesticide applications.

• Scope on Agrochemical Intermediate Manufacturing From India, Way to Reduce Dependency on China &  Way Forward for Indian Agrochemical Companies:  Mr. Pradeep Ghattu, President & COO Excel Industries Ltd. The presentation focused on backward integration of intermediates, helping the Indian Agrochemical companies to have control on the costs and on way to reduce dependency on imports and on disruption of supply chain which the world faced during Covid-19 pandemic times.

• Recovery in Agrochem in USA Plus India’s Gain with Trump 2.0 Over China: Mr. Ajay Joshi-Consultant .The presentation gave overview of Global Chemical & Agrochemical industry and current state of Agrochemical Industry.

Panel Discussion: CHINA PLUS One- A Myth or Reality

Panelists:

• Mr. Jitendra Mohan, COO Willowood Chemicals Ltd.

• Mr. Shivraj Anand, CEO – International Business,  Parijat Industries (India) Pvt Ltd.  

• Mr.  V Gopalakrishan, Vice President, Supply Chain Management, Sumitomo Chemical India 

• Mr. Nilesh Kulkarni, Executive Director-Business, Gharda Chemicals Ltd.

• Mr. Rajesh Agarwal, Managing Director,  Krishi Rasayan Exports Pvt. Ltd. 

• Moderated by: Dr. Samir Dave, Director, Aimco Pesticides Ltd and Hon. Secretary PMFAI.

 

• Navigating Global Crop Protection Regulations - Challenges & Opportunities: Mr.  Akashpratim Mukhopadhyay, Managing Editor, Crop Science Market Reporting, S&P Global Commodity Insights, S&P.

• Registration Processes of Agrochemicals in the CIS countries  & Ukraine: Ms. Alina Gorozdeeva, Regulatory Affairs Manager, Polgar ACRO (Agrochemical Consulting & Registration Office)

• POLYPLAST Agro Solutions - Ms. Svetlana Smayls - Business development non-construction. Polyplast 

• AI-Driven Agrochemical R&D - Shortening the Innovation Pipeline:  Cmdr(Dr) Reji Kurien Thomas- Winner of Stephen Hawking Global Award 2024 

Panel Discussion: Achieving Residue Free-Integrated Nutrition Management

Panelists:

• Mr. Pradip Kothawade. Managing Director. Agri Search (India) Pvt Ltd.

• Mr. Sameer Pathare , Founder & CEO. Swaroop Agrochemical Industries & VP - IMMA  

• Mr. Vaibhav Kashikar, Executive Director, Dharthi Agrochemicals  

• Dr. Soumitra Das, Director -  Asia Pacific, Zinc Nutrient Initiative 

• Mr. Kiran Antre, Founder & Director, Dhruv Agritechnologies Pvt. Ltd.

• Ms. Komal Shah, Director, SML Limited

• Moderated by: Dr. Rahul Mirchandani, Chairman & Managing Director, Aries Agro Ltd. & Chairman -IMMA   

Above presentations and Panel Discussions greatly helped participants in gaining knowledge about the market, trends and technologies in Global Agrochemicals; Agri biologicals and emerging trends in Agri Inputs business.  With greater participation by key players in Global Agrochemical & Ag Bio protection product market, the participants appreciated the event.

Sixth edition of ″PMFAI-SML ANNUAL AGCHEM AWARDS 2025″

Coinciding with ICSCE 2025 Dubai, the Sixth edition of ″PMFAI-SML Annual Agchem Awards 2025″ was held on 21st January 2025 evening at 6.30 pm onwards at Le Meridien Hotel & Conference Centre Dubai, UAE. PMFAI-SML Agchem Awards was instituted from 2018 to recognize and honour outstanding achievements in Indian Agrochemical, Agri Biological and Allied Industries and remarkable contributions, which helps Sustainable growth of Agriculture. 

"PMFAI - SML Annual Agchem Awards" which made remarkable beginning in 2018 with permanent sponsorship by M/s. SML Limited (formerly Sulphur Mills Limited), one of the globally known leading Indian Agrochemical Company.  

The Awards Function was attended by over 900 persons.  The Award Committee of independent panel of judges consisting of scientists and professionals scrutinized the award applications to decide winners in different categories of awards.  Given below are Winners in different categories of awards in Sixth PMFAI-SML Annual Agchem Awards 2025.

Audience in PMFAI-SML Annual Agchem Awards 2025

1) Export Excellence Award – Large scale: Winner

Tagros Chemicals India Pvt. Ltd.

2) Export Excellence Award – Large scale: Runner Up

Indofil Industries Limited

3) Export Excellence Award – Medium scale: Winner

Agrow Allied Ventures Pvt. Ltd.

4) Export Excellence Award – Medium scale: Runner Up

General Crop Science Pvt. Ltd.

5) Export Excellence Award – Medium scale: Runner Up

Sandhya Organic Chemicals Pvt. Ltd.

6) Export Excellence Award – Small scale: Winner

Betrust Industries Pvt. Ltd.

7) Best Emerging Company Award – Medium scale: Winner

Ratnakar India Pvt. Ltd.

8) Best Emerging Company Award – Medium scale: Runner Up

Dhanesha Crop Science Pvt. Ltd.

9) Best Emerging Company Award – Small scale: Winner

Sunshiv Botanics Pvt. Ltd.

10) Company of the Year – Large Scale: Winner

Insecticides India Limited

11) Company of the Year – Large Scale: Runner Up

Punjab Chemicals & Crop Protection Ltd.

12) Company of the Year – Medium scale: Winner

Sandhya Organics Chemicals Pvt. Ltd.

13) Company of the Year – Medium scale: Runner up

Agrow Allied Ventures Pvt. Ltd.

14) Company of the Year – Allied Industry: Medium scale: Winner

Supreme Surfactants Pvt. Ltd.

15) Company of the Year – Small scale

Jeevan Chemicals Pvt. Ltd.

 

16) Company of the Year – Small scale

Ekopak India Pvt. Ltd.

17) Award for Outstanding Innovation in Chemical Synthesis: Winner

Safex Chemicals India Ltd.

18) Award for Outstanding Innovation in Chemical Synthesis (Tech): Runner Up

Best Agro Life Limited

Outstanding Innovation in Crop Solutions:

19) Award for Special Technology for Spraying

Biofizz Agritech Pvt. Ltd.

20) Breakthrough Innovation in Oil based and Ammonium Herbicide Adjuvants

Supreme Surfactants Pvt. Ltd.

21) Social Responsibility Excellence Award: Winner

Gencrest Bio Products Pvt. Ltd.

22) Social Responsibility Excellence Award – Runner up

Tagros Chemicals India Pvt. Ltd.

23) Social Responsibility Excellence Award – Runner up

India Pesticides Limited

Special Awards recognising the efforts in ″Social Responsibility″ to:

• HPM Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd.

• Parijat Industries (India) Pvt. Ltd.

• Geolife Agritech India Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Shivraj Anand (fourth from right), CEO-International Business, Parijat Industries (India) Pvt. Ltd. receiving ″Emerging Leader of the Year Award″.

Successful Company of the Era (having presence of more than 20 years)

24) Successful Company of the Era Award – Large Scale: Winner

Bhagiradha Chemicals & Industries Ltd.

25) Successful Company of the Era Award – Large scale: Runner Up

HPM Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd.

26) Success Company of the Era Award – Medium scale: Winner

Indogulf Crop Sciences Ltd.

27) Success Company of the Era Award – Small scale: Winner

Varsha Bioscience & Technology India Pvt. Ltd.

28) Global Company of the year Award – Large scale: Winner

Parijat Industries (India) Pvt. Ltd.

29) Global Company of the year Award – Large scale: Runner up

Tagros Chemicals India Pvt. Ltd.

30) Emerging Leader of the Year Award – Winner

Mr. Shivraj Anand, CEO – International Business, 

Parijat Industries (India) Pvt. Ltd.

31) Leader of the Year Award – Winner

Mr. Nilesh Kulkarni, Executive Director – Business,

Gharda Chemicals Limited

32) Lifetime Achievement Award: Winner

Mr. Sat Narain Gupta, Founder Chairman & Managing Director,

Bharat Rasayan Limited

The Award Function was followed by cocktails and dinner reception.