Agilent and ICAR-NRC for grapes deepen collaboration to enhance food safety standards in India

Agilent Technologies India and ICAR-National Research Centre for Grapes (NRCG), Pune, have announced the next phase of their collaboration, aimed at strengthening India’s food safety infrastructure through advanced analytical science and regulatory engagement. The initiative is expected to bolster India’s position as a trusted global exporter of grapes and unlock new market opportunities by enhancing transparency and trust in quality assurance.

As India’s agricultural exports continue to grow, the demand for reliable, scalable, and regulation-ready food testing solutions has intensified. Agilent and NRCG are responding by co-developing targeted workflows for pesticide residue and fumigant analysis, with a focus on sustainability, precision, and global regulatory alignment. These efforts are designed to support laboratories and stakeholders in meeting evolving safety standards while enhancing confidence in India’s food supply chain.

The collaboration will also serve as a platform for deeper engagement with the scientific and regulatory community. Through joint workshops, webinars, and technical publications, Agilent and NRCG aim to foster knowledge exchange and promote best practices in analytical testing. These initiatives will help build capacity among food safety professionals and encourage the adoption of validated methods across government and commercial labs.

Nandakumar Kalathil, country general manager, Agilent Technologies India, added, “We are proud to expand our collaboration with NRCG and contribute to the development of resilient, future-ready food safety systems. This partnership is not just about technology—it’s about building trust, enabling transformation, and supporting India’s role as a global leader in safe food production.”

Dr. Kaushik Banerjee, director of ICAR-NRCG, stated, “This partnership is a natural progression of our shared vision to elevate food safety standards in India. By integrating Agilent’s technological capabilities with NRCG’s research leadership, we are creating a framework that supports innovation, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder empowerment.”

This renewed partnership builds on earlier successes and reinforces a shared commitment to driving measurable impact in food testing. Moving from strategy to execution, Agilent and NRCG are focused on delivering outcomes that benefit the food industry, regulators, and consumers. By aligning scientific rigor with practical implementation, the collaboration aims to shape the future of food safety in India.