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Karnataka Minister MB Patil Meets UPL's Jai Shroff at Davos WEF 2026

Karnataka's Minister for Large and Medium Industries, MB Patil, met with UPL Chairman Jai Shroff at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Their discussions centered on expanding UPL's agricultural operations in the state, building on its strong corn seed business. The talks covered new irrigation technologies, a specialized ethanol plant for export, and a model for district-level collaboration to boost farm productivity. Patil leads a state delegation aiming to convert investment interest into concrete projects through over 45 high-level meetings at the forum.

Key Points: Karnataka, UPL Discuss Agri Expansion at Davos WEF 2026

  • Discussed scaling UPL's agri footprint in Karnataka
  • Focus on new irrigation tech and ethanol plant
  • Explored district-focused farm productivity model
  • Karnataka delegation holding 45+ global leader meetings
2 min read

WEF 2026: MB Patil meets UPL Chairman at Davos, discusses Karnataka's agricultural expansion plans

Karnataka Minister MB Patil met UPL Chairman Jai Shroff at Davos to discuss scaling agri operations, new tech, and a ₹300 Cr business.

"Their new technology to reduce urea usage by 30% aligns perfectly with our sustainability goals. - MB Patil"

New Delhi, January 20

Karnataka Minister MB Patil on Tuesday said he held discussions with UPL Chairman and Group CEO Jai Shroff at the World Economic Forum in Davos on expanding the company's agricultural footprint in the state.

In a post shared on X, Patil said the meeting focused on scaling up UPL's operations in Karnataka following strong corn seed performance and an annual business of around ₹300 crore in North Karnataka.

"Met with Mr. Jai Shroff, Chairman and Group CEO of UPL, to discuss expanding their agricultural footprint in Karnataka. Following strong corn seed performance and ₹300 Cr annual business in North Karnataka, UPL is looking to scale up with new irrigation technologies and a specialized ethanol plant for exports," the post read.

Patil added that discussions also explored a district-focused collaboration model to enhance farm productivity across Karnataka.

"We explored a district-focused collaboration to boost farm productivity and discussed routing potash imports through Mangalore Port to leverage our coastal infrastructure. Their new technology to reduce urea usage by 30% aligns perfectly with our sustainability goals. I have assured the delegation of our full facilitation as they deepen their commitment to our farmers," the post further read.

Earlier, ahead of the World Economic Summit, Karnataka Minister MB Patil said that he is looking forward to advancing the state's global industry and attracting further investment, aligning with the development agenda.

Shedding light on the delegation's agenda for the annual meet, Patil said that there will be 45-plus high-level meetings with global leaders in Davos.

"Headed to #WEF26 Davos (Jan 19-23) to advance Karnataka's global industry and investment agenda. With an execution-first approach, our delegation will hold 45+ high-level meetings with global leaders, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Lenovo, and Coca-Cola, focused on converting investment intent into on-ground projects and quality jobs," Patil wrote on X.

Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum (WEF) convened its 56th Annual Meeting in Davos on January 19. It will continue till January 23, 2026, bringing together nearly 3,000 leaders from more than 130 countries at a moment of heightened geopolitical tension, economic uncertainty and rapid technological transformation.

Held under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue", Davos 2026 seeks to provide an impartial platform for global leaders from government, business and civil society to reconnect, rebuild trust and explore collaborative solutions to challenges that increasingly transcend borders.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
The technology to reduce urea usage by 30% is the most promising part. Overuse of chemical fertilizers is a huge problem for soil health. If this collaboration can promote sustainable practices while boosting productivity, it's a win-win for Karnataka's future.
P
Priyanka N
Good to see our ministers actively seeking investment at Davos. However, I hope these "45+ high-level meetings" translate into real, on-ground projects and jobs for Kannadigas, not just announcements and MoUs that never materialize. We've seen that story before.
A
Aman W
Using Mangalore Port for potash imports is a smart logistical move. It will reduce costs and congestion at other ports. This kind of practical planning is what we need more of. Hoping for similar focused development in other sectors too!
M
Michael C
The specialized ethanol plant for exports is interesting. With the global push for green energy, Karnataka could position itself as a key biofuel producer. This aligns well with both economic and environmental goals.
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Kavya N
As someone from a farming family in Vijayapura, I welcome this. But the proof will be in the implementation. Will the new technologies be affordable for the average farmer? Will the benefits of the ethanol plant trickle down? The government must ensure transparency in these partnerships.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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