India highlights sustainable farming and trade ties at SIAL Paris 2026

The India Trade Promotion Organisation presented sustainable agriculture, women's empowerment, and evolving European trade relations at SIAL Paris 2026, Euronews reported. Jawed Ashraf spoke at the event opening alongside French Minister Anne Genevard and an international audience. Ashraf described an ongoing agricultural revolution in India driven by small farmers and focused on diversity, resilience, sustainability, and self-sufficiency under the pavilion theme Feeding Our Tomorrow. [1]

The showcase comes as a new trade agreement between the European Union and India reshapes food ties, according to Euronews. The report stated that tech-driven farming practices and women's leadership were featured as central components of India's display at the international food exhibition. [1]

Agriculture and allied activities account for 46.1 percent of the Indian workforce and contribute 15.2 percent to the nominal gross domestic product of the country. India ranks second globally in total farm output, with roughly 86 percent of landholdings measuring under two hectares and an average farm size of about 1.1 hectares. [3]

The emphasis on sustainable agricultural practices in international trade discussions coincides with challenges facing European food production. Extreme summer weather previously reduced the European grain harvest forecast by 16.7 million tonnes and caused over 3 billion euros in agricultural losses, as FTMQ News reported earlier. [6][7]