M S Swaminathan Research Foundation - MSSRF

29/01/2026

Join us tomorrow for the first session of a webinar series that examines India’s climate adaptation strategy, the status and future of agro-biodiversity, and our agricultural research strategy. Organised in collaboration with The IAAG International Inc., the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), and the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), the series brings together leading researchers and policymakers to inform national approaches to climate adaptation and conservation.

The first webinar, “India's Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation Strategy with Reference to Agriculture & Allied Sectors,” focuses on translating India’s commitments into actionable national and state-level pathways while evaluating vulnerabilities across agriculture, water, forests, coasts, health, and urban systems.

Post-webinar presentations will be delivered by Dr. Ramesh Deshpande, IAAG’s Resident Director, and Dr. Naresh Kumar Soora, Division Head, Environmental Sciences, Indian Council of Agricultural Research-IARI

Joining details:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88328396134?pwd=s8X2aBQ3XfX22W9Rc5IsNRK8rG0emj.1

Meeting ID: 883 2839 6134
Passcode: 613384

27/01/2026

MSSRF’s programme Every Child a Scientist, supported by L&T, brought together students, teachers, and researchers for three days of joyful learning! The event featured sessions on millets, an activity‑based teacher training programme, and a special expert talk by neuroscientist Dr. Ishwariya Venkatesh (CCMB, Hyderabad). The sessions were a reminder that a scientist resides in all of us when we let curiosity lead the way✨

25/01/2026

Rural women face a vicious cycle from unrelenting heat: Escaping it means lost wages that threaten family livelihoods—yet enduring it harms their health. How do we break the cycle?

MSSRF's cross-sectional study on heat and women's health provides policy priorities informed by women's lived experiences.

Read the full report: https://shorturl.at/jrm71

23/01/2026

“Women can do much more, but we need recognition and opportunity.”

At a stakeholder consultation organised by the Government of Maharashtra and MSSRF in Mumbai, women farmers from across the state shared their lived realities—from lack of land titles and farmer identity to barriers in accessing credit, water, and government schemes.

Chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture), Government of Maharashtra, Vikas Rastogi and MSSRF Chairperson Dr Soumya Swaminathan, the consultation brought together civil society organisations, researchers, and government officials to discuss pathways towards gender-just, climate-resilient, and nutritionally secure agriculture.

A draft policy note on Women Farmers’ Entitlements was also presented, anchoring discussions in actionable policy solutions.

JSW Foundation

20/01/2026

How does the world define Women Farmers?

The International is a call for all of us to see them as more than just agricultural workers. We need to listen to women farmers themselves and truly acknowledge them in their many roles—as farmers, fishers, processors, scientists, entrepreneurs, knowledge keepers.

This year, MSSRF is furthering our longstanding commitment to ensuring that women farmers receive the recognition, resources, and support they rightfully deserve.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) UN Women

19/01/2026

MSSRF invites you to the Keynote Lecture on “How does calcium signaling regulate potassium deficiency–imposed stress responses in plants?” by Prof. Giridhar K. Pandey, Professor of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi.

The lecture will focus on key pathways in plants that influence the uptake of minerals such as calcium and potassium, particularly in the context of adverse environmental conditions including salinity, drought, nutrient limitations, and extreme temperature fluctuations.

➡️ Date: January 22, 2026 | 11:30 AM IST

➡️ Venue: MSSRF, Chennai (or) Zoom

➡️ Register now: https://forms.office.com/r/2ej8aV8mfM

Zoom link will be shared with all registered participants.

18/01/2026

As we step into 2026, we're doubling down on our longstanding commitment to women farmers. The International Year of the Woman Farmer isn't just about recognition—it's a call to action. It's time to acknowledge their contributions, their resilience, and the everyday challenges that hold them back.

Watch as our Chairperson, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, shares how we're taking action this year—starting with a stakeholder consultation in Maharashtra where women farmers themselves will lead the conversation about both the challenges they face and the solutions they envision.

16/01/2026

Deadline extended for the Mina Swaminathan Media Fellowship to 26th January 2026!

Journalists reporting in Tamil, Malayalam, Odia, Hindi, and Marathi can apply. This edition celebrates the International Year of the Woman Farmer, spotlighting stories that highlight women’s role in food security and sustainable agriculture.

Apply now: https://mssrf.org/media-fellowship

14/01/2026

From the golden fields to the hardworking hands that make every grain possible—India’s harvest festivals like Pongal, Makar Sankranti, Lohri, and Bihu celebrate our farmers and the abundance they bring.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Harvest Season!

14/01/2026

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔!
𝐷𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒: 18 𝐽𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑦 2026

Journalists reporting in Tamil, Malayalam, Odia, Hindi, and Marathi are invited to apply. This edition celebrates the International Year of the Woman Farmer, spotlighting stories that highlight women’s role in food security and sustainable agriculture.

Apply now: https://www.mssrf.org/media-fellowship

The Mina Swaminathan Media Fellowship was constituted in 2020 to highlight gender intersections through powerful storytelling. Established in recognition of the late Mina Swaminathan's commitment to spotlighting gender as part of the institution’s core values, this fellowship also serves as a tri...

13/01/2026

At the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitat and Tangible Income (MISHTI) workshop, MSSRF experts Dr. R. Ramasubramanian and Dr. Rupesh Bhomia shared their insights on critical themes - Mangrove restoration, monitoring, and resilience.

MSSRF’s commitment to mangrove conservation spans over three decades, with restoration efforts dating back to 1996, advancing science-based solutions for coastal ecosystems.

During the workshop, MSSRF also launched bilingual information sheets in the presence of the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Pawan Kalyan.

These information sheets provide:
- Detailed insights into the biodiversity and ecological features of Andhra Pradesh’s mangroves
- Analysis of Land Use Land Cover (LULC) changes from 1990–2025 in the Coringa and Krishna mangrove wetlands

This initiative marks an important step toward strengthening conservation strategies and policy action for coastal resilience and sustainable livelihoods.

13/01/2026

Women wait for night to escape the day's scorching heat.

For millions of women across India, rising temperatures are a silent force eroding health, productivity, and peace of mind. Crouched in humid kitchens or working in sun-scorched fields and informal worksites, women bear the brunt of a crisis that remains largely invisible in policy and planning.

From MSSRF’s cross-sectional study on heat and women’s health, we bring you first-person accounts from women on the frontlines of our heat crisis. Their voices reveal how heat compounds physical exhaustion, mental distress, safety risks, and livelihood insecurity — demanding urgent, gender-responsive climate action.

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐒𝐒𝐑𝐅’𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: https://shorturl.at/jrm71