India placed the priorities of smallholder farmers and Global South nations at the centre of international dialogue at the 7th AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026, hosted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), which concluded in New Delhi on Friday, 23 October 2026. The three-day event brought together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, development partners and farmers to examine how agrivoltaics — the dual use of agricultural land for food production and solar energy generation — can simultaneously strengthen farm incomes and accelerate the clean energy transition.

Key Themes: Food Security, Energy Access and Climate Resilience

The conference kept its focus firmly on implementation rather than aspiration. Deliberations covered agro-climatic zoning, crop selection, water-use efficiency, innovative financing mechanisms and emerging technologies, with farmer-centred models forming the backbone of all discussions. Participants underlined the necessity of solutions that individual countries can adapt to their own agricultural conditions and development priorities — a framing that resonated strongly with delegations from the Global South.

A joint session co-convened by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) examined how agro-climatic zoning can guide agrivoltaic deployment at scale. Scientists discussed shade-tolerant crops, water-use efficiency indices and the microclimatic effects of solar panel arrays across different farming zones. The session underscored that location-specific evidence will be essential to identifying what works for farmers and where agrivoltaic systems can be deployed effectively.

Farmer Voices Shape the Deliberations

A dedicated session facilitated by GIZ brought progressive farmers, Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) federations and rural entrepreneurs into the conversation. Participants shared on-ground experiences from operational agrivoltaic installations, covering revenue diversification, maintenance practices and practical lessons learnt. Their message was unambiguous: project design must be driven by farmers' needs and actual field conditions, not only by engineering or financing logic.

For India and other Global South nations, economically viable models that sustain — rather than displace — agricultural production are seen as central to achieving wider adoption. Farmer experience, the conference concluded, must actively shape how projects are designed, financed and operated going forward.

What Officials and Experts Said

Ashish Khanna, Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), presented an overview of conference proceedings and key outcomes, highlighting opportunities to advance agrivoltaics through research, innovation and international collaboration. Mayank Tewari, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, addressed participants at the closing ceremony, emphasising the importance of translating the deliberations into continued collaboration and practical action on the ground.

Awards and the Road to France in 2027

The closing ceremony featured Excellence Awards recognising outstanding contributions to the agrivoltaics sector. The National Agrivoltaics Pitch-Hub Award honoured promising enterprise and start-up innovations with the potential to drive viable solutions. Best Paper Awards across six scientific themes — spanning system design, agronomy, monitoring, business models and socio-economic equity — recognised researchers and innovators working to convert scientific knowledge into practical advances for agriculture and renewable energy.

The ceremony also marked the formal handover of hosting responsibility for the 8th AgriVoltaics World Conference in 2027 to France, carrying forward the momentum built in New Delhi and reinforcing the continuing international effort to expand agrivoltaic solutions across diverse farming contexts globally.