Indian Society of Weed Science (ISWS), Jabalpur in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur and Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi is organizing this biennial conference on “Climate-smart weed management for global food security” in BHU, Varanasi from 28-30 November 2024. Dr. S.K. Chaudhari, Deputy Director General (Natural Resource Management), ICAR, Dr. Panjab Singh, Chancellor, RLBCAU, Jhansi and former Secretary, DARE & DG, ICAR, Dr. Samunder Singh, President, International Weed Science Society and Dr. U.P. Singh, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, BHU were present at the function.

Dr. S.K. Chaudhari DDG, NRM and the Chief Guest of inaugural function delivered an insightful address that emphasized the impact of climate-change on weed dynamics and agricultural productivity & sustainability. He also highlighted the importance of public-private partnership in developing and disseminating the sustainable integrated weed management practices. Weed management in conservation agriculture, regenerative agriculture and natural/organic farming is very important for their success, he added. Dr. Panjab Singh, presided over the session, offering an inspiring vision for sustainable weed management. He emphasized that weeds are one of the major biotic constraints in crop production causing as high as 34% yield reduction. He further highlighted the major challenges in weed management under changing climatic scenario such as increasing problem of herbicide resistant weeds, non-availability of new herbicide molecules, weed flora shift, and urged the scientists to focus more on basic research such as nano-technology, remote sensing, weed seedbank management, development of new plant types for weed suppression, etc.

Dr. Samunder Singh the guest of honour urged the scientists to explore the possibility of new technologies such as CRISPR-Cas 9, Genome editing technology for developing climate smart weed management, and emphasized on improving weed management through micro-irrigation. The session began with warm welcome by Dr. U.P. Singh, Dean faculty of Agriculture, who underscored the importance of the conference theme under “climate-smart weed management for global food security”, highlighted the research achievements of faculty of agriculture sciences, BHU, Varanasi. Dr. J.S. Mishra, Director, ICAR-DWR, Jabalpur and President, ISWS discussed the significance of weed management under changing climate scenario. Dr Mishra expressed optimism that the conference would pave the way for impactful innovative solution for sustainable weed management. Dr. R.P. Dubey, the organizing secretary of the conference expressed the gratitude to the dignitaries, participants and the organizing teams. On the occasion, various ISWS awards were conferred to the reputed weed scientists. Three publications were also released by the dignitaries. Around 400 delegates from India and oversees are attending the conference.