Genesis:
The Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS) is an outcome of the 88th Session of Indian Science Congress held under the General Presidentship of Dr R.S. Paroda at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi on 3-6 January, 2001. The theme of the Congress was "Food, Nutrition and Environmental Security".
During the Congress, Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee released the following Vision Statement for Indian Agriculture:
"By 2020, India will be free of poverty, hunger and malnutrition, and become an environmentally safe country. This, we believe, will be possible to achieve through accelerated social and economic development by harnessing the advances in science, and blending them with our indigenous knowledge, wisdom and unique socio-cultural ethos. We believe India can banish poverty and emerge as a developed nation by promoting growth through efficient and sustainable use of our human, natural and other resources”.
The Vision Statement concluded stating -
“Hunger free India is an idea whose time has come. Let us launch a science-based crusade for elimination of hidden hunger and malnutrition"
Prime Minister also exhorted the scientists by stating -
“Our goal to make India a leading nation in the world in the new century hinges critically on how successfully we take science to the people and create a stronger scientific temper in our society”.
In response to the above, and considering the fact that the Congress should not be seen as an end in itself and that there is need for a movement for harnessing, in particular, the agricultural sciences for the welfare of the people, the National Organizing Committee of the Congress decided to form a Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS).
Accordingly, the Trust was established on 17 October, 2002 with its Headquarters at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi.
Vision:
India becomes a prosperous agricultural country through a science-based crusade for elimination of poverty, hidden hunger and malnutrition.
Goal:
Ensuring an accelerated movement for harnessing agricultural sciences for the welfare of people.
Mission:
Promoting growth and advancement of agriculture through scientific interactions and partnerships.
Strategy:
TAAS acts as a neutral and vibrant Think Tank for strengthening agricultural research and innovation for development (ARI4D). It executes its programs and activities through collaboration and innovative partnerships with other national, regional and international organizations and networks. Its major strategic thrusts are; Policy advocacy, Technology transfer, Information dissemination/knowledge sharing, Human resource development/capacity building.
Objectives:
- To act as a Think Tank to deliberate on key issues relating to agricultural research and innovation for development (ARI4D) and influence policy decisions
- To organize workshops, conferences, brainstorming sessions, policy dialogues, seminars and special lectures on emerging issues and new developments in agricultural sciences
- To disseminate knowledge among stakeholders through publication of proceedings, strategy papers and policy briefs
- To recognize and award the scientists of Indian and foreign origin for their outstanding contributions towards Indian agriculture
- To facilitate scientific interactions and partnership building of non-resident Indian agricultural scientists with Indian scientists