The first International Conference on Agricultural Machinery and Bioresource Engineering was held at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU). The event underscored the growing importance of technological advancements in agriculture and the potential for these innovations to transform the industry into a more sustainable and efficient sector in Bangladesh.

Dr Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, the secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, attended the event as the chief guest. In his speech, he emphasized the crucial role of technology in promoting sustainable agricultural production.

“This conference will open new horizons for introducing the latest technologies in agriculture. The gathering of scientists and industry experts is truly commendable. The world is undergoing significant changes, and the use of technology is vital to increasing agricultural production in the era of the Industrial Revolution,” Dr Emdad stated.

He also highlighted Bangladesh’s position as a global leader in agricultural production, playing a key role in food supply and nutrition security worldwide. The conference, titled "Smart Agricultural Mechanization and Bioresource Utilization towards 4AR," represents a significant step towards integrating advanced agricultural technology in Bangladesh. It was organized by the Bangladesh Society of Agricultural Machinery and Bioresource Engineering (BSAMBE) and the Farm Power and Machinery Department of BAU.

During his address, Dr Emdad emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in bridging research with industry, particularly in areas such as smart agriculture, alternative energy, and post-harvest technology.

Approximately 240 scientists, agricultural engineers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and students from countries including the United States, Canada, China, Japan, India, and South Korea gathered for the inaugural session. Among those present were Dr Jiaoqun Shi, FAO representative in Bangladesh; Dr Nazmun Nahar Karim, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC); Professor Dr AK Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan, Vice-Chancellor of BAU; and Dr Md Abdullah Yusuf Akhand, director-general of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI).

Research papers from 160 presenters were discussed in six technical sessions, one business session, and two poster sessions. Additionally, four major topics were presented during the plenary session. The conference will award the best papers and posters, with publications in the Journal of Agricultural Machinery and Bioresources Engineering (JAMBE).

A special agricultural machinery fair was held at BAU’s helipad, where eight renowned institutions, both government and private, showcased modern agricultural machinery and technologies. Notably, technologies developed by the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) were displayed.