M S Swaminathan Research Foundation - MSSRF

01/03/2026

On , MSSRF shares its story of restoration in Pulicat Lake, supporting livelihoods and strengthening coastal ecosystems.

Seagrass meadows are among the planet’s most vital habitats, essential for carbon storage, marine biodiversity, and coastal resilience. Yet they are increasingly threatened by climate change and human pressures.

Drawing on decades of research and strong community partnerships, MSSRF is working to restore seagrass ecosystems in Pulicat Lake. Supported by C‑SCAPES, this effort goes beyond conservation, it strengthens climate action, protects coastal livelihoods, and builds long-term resilience.

Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ6GOsAG6kw

United Nations

Seagrass ecosystems are among the most productive and vital habitats on our planet. They play a crucial role in carbon sequestration, support rich marine bio...

26/02/2026

This week, we’re celebrating our fishers and striving to build coastal resilience at the M.S. Swaminathan Centenary Fisheries Fair 🌊

On 27 and 28 February, this annual celebration will bring together artisanal fishers, women fish workers, scientists, policymakers, cooperatives, and civil society groups at MSSRF, Taramani, Chennai. Over two days, we will host panel discussions with experts, participate in knowledge exchange, witness exhibitions, and pave the path to achieve Biohappiness.

Learn more: https://www.mssrf.org/events/centenary-fisheries-fair-2026 ▶️ Select sessions will be streamed on YouTube.

25/02/2026

The 10th Wayanad Community Seed Fest is here! Through lively dialogues, seed exchanges and exhibitions of ’s agricultural heritage, we’re excited to spotlight women’s role as conservators.

📅 Feb 28 – March 1 2026
📍Vellamunda Panchayath, Wayanad district, Kerala

Join us in protecting our , our agrobiodiversity, and strengthening community seed sovereignty.

On-spot registrations are open to all participants. Learn more 🔗https://www.mssrf.org/events/community-seed-fest-wayanad-2026

20/02/2026

16/02/2026

Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson, MSSRF, Nitya Rao, Professor of Gender and Development, University of East Anglia, and Dr. Purvi Mehta, Board Member, MSSRF will be present at the panel "Inclusive AI for Women Farmers: Empowerment, Equity & Emerging Leadership" at

Learn more ⬇️

13/02/2026

Wetlands are full of life — and maybe your camera caught the perfect moment! 🌅🦆
Enter our Wetlands Photo Contest and share your view of these incredible ecosystems.
📩 Submit here: https://www.mssrf.org/small-news/wetlands-photo-contest
⏳ Deadline: 2nd March 2026

On World Wetlands Day 2026, we are excited to announce a Wetlands Photo Contest. This year’s official theme is: “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage.” We are looking for photographs that capture the ecological richness of wetlands and the traditional knowledge, practices and community stewardship that help protect these ecosystems across India, from landscapes and biodiversity to culture, livelihoods and everyday interactions with wetlands.

Scan the QR code / visit our website https://www.mssrf.org/news to know more

13/02/2026

MSSRF invites you to the second webinar in our series exploring key issues and solutions in India’s agriculture sector.

This session focuses on India’s biodiversity challenges and features an expert panel with decades of experience in biodiversity research and policy implementation.

To join the webinar use the following link:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89131949068?pwd=zTUe8hWFX6eYPbsG7PGnbgGVU6QKgg.1

Meeting ID: 891 3194 9068
Passcode: 572852

12/02/2026

Six Crops, One Vision: Future-Proofing India’s Food Systems

Farmers, scientists, policymakers, and value chain actors came together to ask a critical question. Which crops can secure India’s nutrition and resilience in the face of climate change?

Click here to know: https://linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7427636544997584896

Over two days of intense dialogue, our stakeholders identified six priority opportunity crops that could be game changers for India’s food security and biodiversity.

Crop Trust

11/02/2026

Women in STEM continue to enter the field in strong numbers, yet the pathway to leadership remains uneven. Today's panel on ‘Diversity in STEM and its Impact on India’s Economy’ highlighted how systemic barriers still create a leaky, uneven pipeline that limits women’s advancement.

While policies such as GATI, menstrual leave, and workplace crèches are promising steps forward, the real challenge lies in consistent implementation. Support exists on paper, but the translation into everyday practice remains to be seen.

The message was clear: improving diversity in STEM requires more than entry points—it demands structural change that supports women all the way to the top.

The webinar was organised to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science by MSSRF. Watch the full discussion here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzvno_4kXVA

10/02/2026

This urges us to reimagine women as farmers, herders, cultivators, and scientists.

Women farmers carry traditional knowledge that sustains livelihoods across generations. Combining this with MSSRF’s scientific and technical knowledge, these agents of change are empowered to not just safeguard their families from hunger but also strengthen India’s nutrition security.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

07/02/2026

Join us for a webinar on ‘Diversity in STEM and its Impact on India’s Economy’ as we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science ( )

This session will explore how greater inclusion in science and technology can boost innovation, strengthen India’s economy, by creating more opportunities for women and girls. We’ll touch on why representation matters, what holds women back in STEM from leadership roles, and the kinds of policies, support systems, and cultural shifts that can help close these gaps.

Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/6CWKp1RDBH

We’re delighted to be joined by Dr. Soumya Swaminathan (Chairperson, MSSRF), Dr. Ravinder Kaur (Professor Emerita, Sociology, IIT Delhi), Dr. Karishma Kaushik (Former Executive Director, IndiaBioscience), and Nandita Jayaraj (Science communicator and author, The Life of Science).
The conversation will be co‑moderated by Dr. Gayatri Venkataraman (Principal Scientist, MSSRF) and Shriya Naidu (Science Communicator, MSSRF).

For more details, visit https://www.mssrf.org/

04/02/2026

Ghost Gear has negatively impacted 66% of marine mammals and 50% of seabirds by causing injuries and slow, painful deaths. It also damages vital ecosystems like coral reefs and mangroves, threatening the food security and livelihoods of coastal and fishing communities.

On 2 February, a roundtable of policy, research, industry experts and civil society convened at the 2026 the HCL Harit Summit to address the pressing issue of Ghost Gear.

Key recommendations emerged from the dialogue:
💠 The need to establish a national, data-driven collaborative platform on ghost gear to enable continuous knowledge exchange and coordinated action
💠 Integrate the suggestions from this roundtable into the Marine Litter Policy Framework currently being developed by NCCR
💠 Reorient fisheries subsidies towards circular economy goals such as retrieval and recycling
💠 Leverage existing digital tools like FFMA and integrate them with upcoming central government platforms for better tracking and reporting
💠 Consolidate best practices into a shared knowledge repository for learning, replication and policy application

Organised at Shiv Nadar University, Delhi NCR, The session was facilitated by MSSRF in collaboration with HCL Foundation and joined by institutions and organisations across coastal India, including, United Nations Development Programme - UNDP, WWF-India, TERI - The Energy and Resources Institute, CIFT, National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), DIVEIndia, EDF, Development Research Communication & Services Centre (DRCSC), People's Action for Development, Reef Watch Marine Conservation, Animal Warriors Conservation Society, Spandan, Environmentalist Foundation of India (E.F.I) and Rotary International Clubs.