Modi Proposes Digital Agriculture Network at BRICS Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the second day of the BRICS summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, where he warned against the weaponization of critical minerals and technology. Under India's presidency, Modi proposed the creation of a BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture to support farmers through geospatial technology and artificial intelligence, alongside a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund and an Incubator Network to foster entrepreneurship.

Member nations reached a consensus on implementing an Integrated Early Warning System for infectious diseases and Early Warning Data Integration Guidelines for disaster management. Modi noted that confidence in the grouping among Global South nations has increased as the bloc focuses on sustainability, logistics, and agriculture.

Parallel discussions emphasized the economic and technological utility of the alliance. Mogomme Alpheus Masoga, deputy vice-chancellor at the Central University of Technology, Free State, identified the Government of China as a primary driver of cooperation in the digital economy and AI. He highlighted the BRICS AI Industry Cooperation Network as a tool for developing tailored technologies for emerging markets. Similarly, Dmitry Taburov, CEO of MEFERI Russia, argued that aligning standards and launching joint pilot projects in e-commerce and digital payments would enhance the technological sovereignty and resilience of member states.