Professionals from government, academia, and the private sector have taken the lead in establishing the FOUNDATION FOR DIGITAL & AI TRANSFORMATION IN LIVESTOCK (F-DATAL) — a pioneering institution designed to put technology directly in the hands of India’s livestock farmers, especially small and marginal producers across rural India.
The Foundation brings together some of the country’s most respected former bureaucrats, academic leaders, practising veterinarians, animal health and nutrition experts, and livestock entrepreneurs to build a unified national platform for digital advancement in animal agriculture.
F-DATAL is India’s first dedicated initiative to democratise AI tools, digital systems, disease prediction technologies, and precision livestock solutions — ensuring that farmers benefit directly from modern innovation.
Leadership Team
Office Bearers
- President: Dr. Shirish Nigam
- Vice President: Dr. K. Jayaraman
- Secretary: Dr. Sandeep Gupta
- Treasurer: Dr. Sushanth Rai
Patrons
- Dr. Tarun Shridhar
Former Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India
- Dr. O. P. Choudhary
Former Joint Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India
- Prof. (Dr.) P. K. Shukla
Former Joint Commissioner (Poultry), Government of India & Former Dean DUVASU, Mathura.
Why F-DATAL Matters to Farmers
India’s 7.5 crore livestock farmers — especially smallholders — face daily challenges such as disease outbreaks, climate variability, rising feed costs, and income unpredictability.
F-DATAL aims to bridge this gap by offering access to:
- AI-based disease early-warning systems
- Smart nutrition and feeding tools
- Digital health records and farm-level dashboards
- Training and skilling programs for rural youth
- Traceability & food-safety technologies
- Village-level innovation pilots
F-DATAL’s work is committed to building a healthier, safer and more prosperous future for the farming community.
Vision & Purpose of F-DATAL
F-DATAL supports the Government of India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, aiming to make India a global leader in AI-led livestock development.
Core Objectives
- Promote AI, ML, IoT and data-science adoption in livestock systems
- Build a national digital architecture for disease surveillance & traceability
- Support startups via innovation hubs & accelerator programs
- Enable evidence-based policy advocacy
- Build training ecosystems for farmers & veterinarians
- Strengthen industry–academia–government partnerships
Dr. Shirish Nigam, President, F-DATAL, said:
“Our farmers deserve the best tools the world can offer. With F-DATAL, we are placing the power of AI and digital innovation directly in the hands of livestock keepers. This mission is about safer animals, stronger rural families, and a more prosperous India.”
About F-DATAL
The Foundation for Digital & AI Transformation in Livestock (F-DATAL) is a not-for-profit organisation established in November 2025 and headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. It works across dairy, poultry, livestock, aquaculture and allied sectors to advance digital transformation for national impact.
For Media Enquiries: Email: info@fdatal.org
