Embrapa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on scientific and technological cooperation with a consortium of five private institutions, namely three Indian and two Brazilian companies. The agreement is valid for 10 years and mainly focuses on the transfer and validation of Embrapa’s genomic technologies to that country’s dairy farming. 

On India’s side, the parties to the agreement are Leads Agri Genetics Private Limited (specializing on animal genetics and dairy technologies, including genomic selection and in-vitro fertilization); LeadsConnect Services Private Ltd (pioneer in Analytics with a focus on AgriTech, climate-smart agriculture,and data analysis), and B.L. Kamdhenu Farms Limited (an entity that promotes dairy farming in India that aims at developing a sustainable ecosystem for native breeds). As for Brazil’s, the MOU is signed by Fazenda Floresta (specialized in in-vitro embryo production and high-performance dairy operations) and DNAMARK (a laboratory focused on genetic improvement and applied genomics).

The Ambassador of India in Brazil, Dinesh Bhatia, stresses that this is the first time that a technical-scientific cooperation agreement is signed by Brazilian and Indian companies in the area of cutting-edge breeding and genetic improvement, involving modern animal reproduction techniques. He also notes that the initiative stems from a Memorandum of Understanding established between Embrapa and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in July, with the aim of broadening cooperation in agricultural research.

The president of Embrapa, Silvia Massruhá, recalls that the partnership between Brazil and India in agricultural research is old, especially in the field of bovine breeding and genetic improvement. According to her, in the last few decades, modern techniques like genomics, biotechnology, gene editing, and bioinformatics started to integrate this, bringing new challenges to reseach and widening opportunities to share advances aimed at increasing milk yield in both countries. For Massruhá, the cooperation with Indian institutions strengthens Embrapa’s position as a global reference in tropical agriculture and opens an even broader scientific front. “While the initial focus is on livestock, the scope of the cooperation is quite broad”, she adds.

According to Embrapa Dairy Cattle researcher Marcos Vinícius G. B. Silva, the new initiative will allow the transfer, adaptation, and validation of Embrapa’s portfolio of genomic technologies in one of the largest dairy markets in the world, with an initial focus on Zebu breeds. “The partnership offers a two-way street. Embrapa contributes with its expertise in genomics, bioinformatics, breeding and genetic improvement, and reproductive biotechnologies; while it will have access to genomic and phenotypic databases of Indian breeds”, he states. According to him, such access is vital to improve Embrapa’s genomic prediction models and will accelerate genetic gains in the Indian herd.

The institutions have committed to the establishment of joint projects in science and technology in the areas of natural resources and climate change (adaptation and resilience of production systems); biotechnology, microbiomes, nanotechnology and geotechnology; bioeconomy and bioproducts; agroindustrial technology; automation and digital agriculture, including artificial intelligence and information technology.

The MoU implementation will occur through Scientific Cooperation Projects (SCPs) or Technical Cooperation Projects (TCPs), which should detail funding, responsibilities and, crucially, intellectual property (IP) rights on new processes or products. With the signing of the Memorandum, the parties begin the process of defining the specific projects (SCPs and TCPs) that will give body and operability to the collaboration plan. “The success of this initiative will position Brazilian genomics as an essential tool in the sustainable development of global cattle farming”, Silva concludes.