The ‘Future Harvest Summit 2026’ was held at Islamic University (IU) with the participation of young researchers and entrepreneurs, focusing on the integration of agricultural research, technology and innovation to build a sustainable future for agriculture.

The day-long event was held on Saturday (September 26) at the Bir Shreshtha Hamidur Rahman Auditorium under the theme, “Connecting Research, Innovation & The Future of Sustainable Farming.” The summit was jointly organized by Qamarun Agro Farm and IAAS Bangladesh IU.

Researchers, teachers, entrepreneurs and young researchers from different institutions across the country participated in the event. Discussions on agricultural research and innovation, research poster presentations, business idea-based PowerPoint presentations and panel discussions were held throughout the programme.

In the afternoon session, students from Islamic University, Gopalganj Science and Technology University and Gazipur Agricultural University presented research posters.

Among those present were Global Youth Parliament Deputy Coordinator Engineer Hasan Mahmud, Professor Dr. Mosa. Minara Khatun of the Department of Microbiology and Hygiene at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Dr. Md. Samiul Islam, Head of the Department of Economics at Presidency University, and Professor S. M. Arifuzzaman of Quazi Consultants. Jewel Rana, founder of Chitra Media and a former student of the Department of Law at Islamic University, attended as the keynote speaker.

Professor Dr. Mosa. Minara Khatun said agriculture originated through the efforts of women, and women are now seeking to establish themselves as leaders and entrepreneurs in the sector. She emphasized that entrepreneurship requires risk-taking along with the effective use of knowledge, labour and capital.

She said family and male support are also important in this regard. Small initiatives in dairy farming, goat rearing, food processing and digital marketing can grow into large businesses. Access to finance, markets and modern technology, along with the right mindset and self-confidence, are crucial for entrepreneurship, she added.

Engineer Hasan Mahmud said around 45 percent of Bangladesh’s total workforce depends on agriculture, while 37 percent work in the services sector and 17 percent in industry. He stressed the need to create productive employment opportunities to harness the potential of the country’s young population.

Jewel Rana urged young people to use their time effectively, dream big and work consistently to achieve their goals. He encouraged them to develop a habit of reading at least 20 pages of a book every day and cautioned against comparing their lives with the idealized images often seen on social media.

He also emphasized the importance of family, personal responsibility and perseverance in overcoming difficult times and moving forward in life.