NEW DELHI, Sept. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A major international push to accelerate agricultural innovation across the Global South took centre stage in New Delhi today, as the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation was commemorated amid mounting climate, water and food-security pressures across the world's drylands.
Held as part of the Global Drylands Congress 2026, the commemoration focused on how proven solutions can move faster across borders, particularly between countries facing similar agricultural and climate conditions, be adapted to local realities and deliver greater impact for farmers and food systems.
The Congress brought together some of the world's foremost agricultural scientists, policymakers, research leaders, development institutions, private-sector actors and practitioners, creating a high-level global platform to help shape the future of dryland agriculture and strengthen cooperation across the Global South.
The commemoration showcased the growing reach of the ICRISAT Centre of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA), a global platform accelerating the adaptation and scaling of proven agricultural solutions across the Global South.
ISSCA now works with 19 partners, has identified more than 100 validated and scalable solutions, and has supported over 300 professionals from more than 40 countries. Its portfolio spans climate-resilient crops, soil and water management, digital agriculture, agribusiness, nutrition, livelihoods and environmental sustainability.
That approach carries particular urgency for the world's drylands, home to hundreds of millions of people and among the regions most exposed to climate variability, water scarcity, land degradation and food insecurity. Yet these same regions are also emerging as important frontiers for innovation in climate-resilient agriculture.
The Dryland Congress was jointly organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), bringing together two globally renowned agricultural research institutions with a long history of collaboration in crop improvement, resilient farming systems, natural resource management and dryland innovation.
ICAR, one of the world's largest national agricultural research systems, has played a central role in India's agricultural transformation, drawing on deep scientific expertise, institutional strength and experience at scale. ICRISAT, a CGIAR Research Center, brings more than five decades of scientific leadership across the drylands of Asia and Africa, with a distinguished record of advancing crop improvement, farming systems and natural resource management, while translating research into practical solutions for food and nutrition security and livelihoods.
Addressing the Congress, ICRISAT Director General Dr Himanshu Pathak said ISSCA's growth reflected a broader evolution in South-South cooperation — moving beyond knowledge exchange towards practical pathways for adoption and impact.
"Rather than reinventing solutions country by country, ISSCA connects proven innovations with institutions, partners and farming systems where they can be adapted and scaled more rapidly.
"The Global Drylands Congress has strengthened that pathway by bringing together science, policy, partnerships and investment to turn proven solutions into impact at scale," Dr Pathak said.
Dr M.L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR, underscored that the future of agriculture will increasingly depend on countries and institutions working together across borders.
"It will be shaped by what we are willing to share, what we can learn from one another, and how boldly we build partnerships that turn science into solutions for farmers.
"The ICAR–ICRISAT partnership is a powerful example of what sustained collaboration can achieve, and of the wider promise of South-South cooperation," Dr Jat said.
The commemoration culminated in the presentation of the Delhi Declaration on Drylands, setting out a shared ambition to strengthen South-South cooperation, accelerate the uptake and scaling of proven innovations, deepen institutional partnerships and reposition the world's drylands as landscapes of resilience, opportunity and sustainable growth.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
New Delhi Marks UN Day for South-South Cooperation with Push to Scale Dryland Innovation Across the Global South
Silversea celebrates the opening of the 150-room hotel in Puerto Williams, Chile, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring performances by local children and artists
MIAMI, Nov. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Silversea, the leading experiential luxury and expedition travel brand, has officially opened The Cormorant at 55 South, a new 150-room hotel in Puerto Williams, Chile, the southernmost city on Earth. Marking a historic moment for the brand and a first-of-its-kind venture for Silversea and Royal Caribbean Group, the hotel opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 5, featuring Silversea executive leadership, Chilean national and regional authorities, and members of the local community. Developed in partnership with a consortium of Chilean investors, the hotel reflects the region it calls home while acting as the new gateway to Silversea's Antarctica Fly Cruise program. Every guest on the Antarctica Fly Cruise expedition will now arrive in Puerto Williams on a Silversea-branded charter flight and stay at The Cormorant, before continuing their journey to the Last Continent.
"Today marks a defining moment for Silversea," said Bert Hernandez, president, Silversea. "We opened The Cormorant at 55 South to make the journey to Antarctica easier and more comfortable for our guests. Now the expedition begins here, in a hotel designed around Puerto Williams, with the same service our guests expect while on board our ships. Silversea has always been about going further, and this is another example of how we are continuing to invest in the guest experience."
A FIRST FOR SILVERSEA AT THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE WORLD
The Cormorant carries on the leadership Silversea established in 2008, when it pioneered luxury expedition cruising, from the ship to the shore. Staffed by a team trained through The Silversea Way, Silversea's service culture, the hotel brings the brand's personalized service to the first welcome in Puerto Williams, and it was built to the standard guests expect on board. Built using modular construction, each of the 150 rooms were built in Mendoza, Argentina, and transported across the Andes and Patagonia to its place at 55 degrees south.
Its architecture and interiors draw on the landscape, local traditions, and regional materials, and that sense of place extends through the experience. Three large-scale works by Chilean artists bring the landscape, geology, and ecology of the far south into the hotel, while food and beverage begin with the destination itself and are built around local ingredients.
THE START OF THE ANTARCTICA FLY CRUISE JOURNEY
Guests on an Antarctica Fly Cruise expedition fly non-stop from Silversea's private terminal in Santiago to Puerto Williams on Silversea-branded charter flights and stay at The Cormorant before and after their voyage. Inside, the design moves guests from water and darkness toward warmth, wood, and fire.
Each space is designed to bring the region to life, making the destination the very heart of the experience.
- Latitude 55: Rooted in Chilean flavors, regional ingredients, and local culinary traditions – like the asado – The Cormorant's restaurant, Latitude 55, brings Chilean Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, and Puerto Williams to the table. Menus start with what grows, grazes, and swims in the region, and dinner is served family-style, with large platters at the center of the table.
- Bar Sur: The hotel's social center serves teas and small bites by day and Chilean wines and spirits in the evening, with a wine list that tours Chile from north to south. Calafate, a deep indigo native berry, anchors the cocktails alongside Chilean Pisco, a national spirit, in flavors that are tart, herbal, and warm, with a hint of smoke that echoes the asado fire. Other experiences include a guided Pisco journey led by the Bar Sur team and wine tastings led by the hotel's sommelier.
- Fireplace: Inspired by the regional tradition of fire as a place for hospitality and storytelling, the Fireplace offers plush seating and expansive windows overlooking the Patagonian landscape.
- Art and Design: Three large-scale works by Chilean artists anchor the interiors: Navarino, a steel sculpture by Paola Vezzani suspended in the main lobby; Dientes de Navarino, a bar mural by Cata Flaño; and La Memoria de las Piedras, an installation of seventy handcrafted ceramic stones by Javier Canales.
- Outdoor Experiences: Guests can kayak the sheltered waters of the Beagle Channel, hike the shoreline trails of Seno Lauta, and explore the landscape on horseback, with plenty of chances to spot cormorants, dolphin gulls, and upland geese along the way.
OPENING DAY: A CEREMONY SHAPED BY PUERTO WILLIAMS
The grand opening of The Cormorant drew on the music, history, and community of Chile's far south.
Los Chamames de la Patagonia, a folk ensemble founded in Punta Arenas in 2015, performed a Patagonian chamamé with children from the local Grupo Folklorico. The musical tradition has Guaraní roots in northeastern Argentina and traveled south with seasonal workers, shepherds, and families. Local schoolchildren sang the Chilean national anthem, accompanied by young musicians.
The ribbon, featuring natural junco fibers handwoven by local artisans, featured a chain of interconnected circles that symbolize the connections between people, cultures, and territories, and a meeting point between Patagonia, its communities, and travelers from around the world. Specially designed links allowed the hotel's leaders and Chilean authorities to cut it together while the woven circles remained intact.
STARTING WITH 29 ANTARCTICA FLY CRUISE VOYAGES
The Cormorant represents a long-term investment in how Silversea delivers the Antarctica experience.
Through March 2027, Silver Endeavour, Silver Wind, and Silver Cloud will operate 40 voyages, including 29 Antarctica Fly Cruise voyages, each featuring a stay at The Cormorant at 55 South. The season's itineraries range from six to 21 nights and extend beyond the Antarctic Peninsula to South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.
For more information on The Cormorant at 55 South and Silversea's Antarctica Fly Cruise program, visit: https://www.silversea.com/the-cormorant-at-55-south.html
Find additional assets in our digital press kit: https://royalcaribbeangrouppresscenter.com/silversea/dpk/cormorant
About Silversea
Silversea is the leading experiential luxury and expedition travel brand, offering guests immersive experiences on all seven continents, personalized service, and an innovative culinary offering aboard its 12 intimate ocean and expedition ships. Silversea's itineraries encompass an unparalleled range of destinations worldwide, from the Mediterranean and the Caribbean to the Galápagos, both Polar Regions, and hundreds of fascinating places in between. Set to strengthen its destination leadership starting in 2026, the brand is developing the southernmost hotel on Earth, The Cormorant at 55 South, in Puerto Williams, Chile – offering guests a uniquely seamless journey to Antarctica. Silversea brings its like-minded guests closer to their destination in uncompromised comfort, championing the joy of travel, an enriching spirit of discovery, and an enduring commitment to Silversea's signature "To Finding More" promise. Silversea is owned and operated by global cruise company Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL). For more information, visit www.silversea.com. Media can stay up to date by visiting the brand's press center.
Silversea, Otium, S.A.L.T., The Cormorant at 55 South, To Finding More, and the various ship names are registered trademarks of Silversea Cruises LLC.
About Royal Caribbean Group
Royal Caribbean Group is a leading global vacation company spanning cruise, one-of-a-kind destinations, and land-based vacation experiences. The company operates 71 ships sailing to more than 1,000 destinations across all seven continents through its three wholly owned brands - Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea - and a 50% joint venture interest in TUI Cruises, which operates the Mein Schiff and Hapag-Lloyd brands.
The Group is expanding its portfolio of private destinations through its Perfect Day and Royal Beach Club collections, and the company will enter river cruising in 2027 with Celebrity River Cruises. Powered by innovative brands, advanced technology, and an industry-leading loyalty program, the company has built a connected vacation ecosystem, turning the vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations.
Named to the Fortune World's Most Admired Companies 2026 list and to Forbes' 2026 Best American Companies lists, Royal Caribbean Group is guided by its mission to deliver the best vacations responsibly. For more information, visit royalcaribbeangroup.com.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
SILVERSEA MARKS HISTORIC OPENING OF THE CORMORANT AT 55 SOUTH, THE SOUTHERNMOST HOTEL ON EARTH, OFFERING A NEW GATEWAY TO ANTARCTICA
SILVERSEA MARKS HISTORIC OPENING OF THE CORMORANT AT 55 SOUTH, THE SOUTHERNMOST HOTEL ON EARTH, OFFERING A NEW GATEWAY TO ANTARCTICA
SILVERSEA MARKS HISTORIC OPENING OF THE CORMORANT AT 55 SOUTH, THE SOUTHERNMOST HOTEL ON EARTH, OFFERING A NEW GATEWAY TO ANTARCTICA
SILVERSEA MARKS HISTORIC OPENING OF THE CORMORANT AT 55 SOUTH, THE SOUTHERNMOST HOTEL ON EARTH, OFFERING A NEW GATEWAY TO ANTARCTICA
