M S Swaminathan Research Foundation - MSSRF

M S Swaminathan Research Foundation - MSSRF M S Swaminathan Research Foundation M S Swaminathan Research Foundation is a non-profit research organization established in 1988. Founded by Professor M. S.

M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) has been developing and following a pro-nature, pro-poor, pro-women and pro-sustainable on-farm and non-farm livelihoods through appropriate ecotechnology and knowledge empowerment. Swaminathan with proceeds from the First World Food Prize that he received in 1987, the Foundation aims to to accelerate use of modern science for agricultural and rural deve

lopment. The Foundation applies appropriate science and technology options to address practical problems faced by rural populations in spheres of agriculture, food and nutrition. These efforts have been undertaken in a participatory manner in partnership with other knowledge-based institutions, public and private sector organisations and local communities. Professor Swaminathan is a Fellow of many of the leading scientific academies of India and the world, including the Royal Society of London and the U S National Academy of Sciences. He has received 58 honorary doctorate degrees from universities around the world. He currently holds the UNESCO Chair in Ecotechnology at the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai (Madras), India

Researchers from MSSRF have published a chapter in the book “Gender Mainstreaming and Development” on detailing the decl...
24/04/2026

Researchers from MSSRF have published a chapter in the book “Gender Mainstreaming and Development” on detailing the decline and recent revival of millet cultivation in India. The chapter ‘Millets and Women: A Changing Feminist Political Ecology of Agricultural Innovations’ focuses on how policy support, technological innovation, and value chain interventions, have reshaped productivity, markets, and gender relations. This chapter employs a feminist political ecology framework to critically examine these gendered and political–economic shifts, with a focus on pathways for embedding gender mainstreaming in the millet sector.

𝐌𝐒𝐒𝐑𝐅 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬: Girigan Gopi; Prashant K. Parida; Rengalakshmi Raj

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞:: http://59.160.153.188/library/node/1075

Our forests, farms, coasts, and communities are all part of the same living system. At MSSRF, we work across agricultura...
22/04/2026

Our forests, farms, coasts, and communities are all part of the same living system. At MSSRF, we work across agricultural and coastal ecosystems because we know that the health of our soils shapes the health of our seas, and the vitality of our coasts determines the nutrition on our plates. When one ecosystem falters, the effects ripple outward — across landscapes, livelihoods, and lives. This , we reiterate our commitment to protecting these interconnections, because a thriving planet and a thriving people are never two different goals.

“Water was always a worry,” recalls Sobitha, a Paniyan Adivasi woman from Kerala’s Wayanad district, where shortages cha...
17/04/2026

“Water was always a worry,” recalls Sobitha, a Paniyan Adivasi woman from Kerala’s Wayanad district, where shortages challenged her ability to farm.

For most of India’s women farmers—who form the backbone of the rural agricultural workforce—this is an everyday struggle.

Read how Sobitha has adapted to ease the burden on her health, farm, and household: https://www.mssrf.org/stories-of-change

on 22 April | First 1000 Days: How Food Systems, Livelihoods and Care Shape Early Childhood Development As the Minis...
16/04/2026

on 22 April | First 1000 Days: How Food Systems, Livelihoods and Care Shape Early Childhood Development

As the Ministry of Women and Child Development marks the 8th Poshan Pakhwada with a focus on maximizing brain development in the first six years, join MSSRF for a timely webinar on current awareness, key challenges, and the best way forward to make the most of these crucial years for the next generation.

Panelists:
Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson, MSSRF
Dr Arun Gupta, Pediatrician & Founder, Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI)
Chirashree Ghosh, Executive Director – Policy & Partnerships, Mobile Crèches Mobile Creches

Moderated by Dr Drishti Sharma, Principal Scientist, Health and Nutrition Policy, MSSRF

Register now: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/zVSTzR4fev

A new national digital platform has mapped 475+ community seed banks across India. Developed by MSSRF and the Fridtjof N...
15/04/2026

A new national digital platform has mapped 475+ community seed banks across India. Developed by MSSRF and the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI) with financial support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy, it connects farmers, community seed banks-promoting networks, researchers, and institutions.

Visit the website and explore the atlas: https://www.communityseedbanks.in/

14/04/2026

Dr Soumya Swaminathan joined Rathish Balakrishnan in conversation on the latest podcast episode of ‘Decoding Impact’, to discuss the varying intersections of climate change and health:

How does climate change impact health, from animal-human conflicts to climate anxiety?
How can we build climate-resilient health systems?
What role do governments play in policy, research, and climate-informed health practices?
What solutions exist, from farmer-friendly apps to municipal climate action plans?

Watch this snippet as she decodes the impact of rising temperatures and humidity on the human body and the future of our planet...

[Video by Decoding Impact with Rathish Balakrishnan]

13/04/2026

Good nutrition for children is a shared responsibility. Let us ensure every child reaches their full potential in the first 1,000 days of life.

As the Ministry of Women and Child Development marks the 8th edition of Poshan Pakhwada with a focus on maximizing brain development in the first six years, MSSRF supports this timely and important campaign.

07/04/2026

Our recommendation for your listening list: the brand new episode from One Purpos Voices (by CSR box), featuring Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson of MSSRF and former WHO Chief Scientist.

▶️ "Vigyaan se Vikas tak" is out now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1FNBBbX6p4

Watch the episode as she shares the mindset, challenges, and vision behind her decades of experience in shaping global public health and policy.

07/04/2026

🌍 On World Health Day, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan calls on us to link science, evidence, research with policy and practice for real improvements on the ground.

The real-world impacts of global threats like climate change, biodiversity loss, and antimicrobial resistance are unfolding before us today—an urgent reminder that planetary health and human wellbeing are deeply interconnected. Our scientists, policymakers, and communities must unite, embracing a One Health approach, to tackle these complex challenges.

At MSSRF, we drive participatory research, linking community evidence to policy and practice for lasting change. Join us in standing with science for a healthier planet.

Let's come together for health and

Blue carbon ecosystems, such as mangroves, seagrasses, and tidal marshes, can store nearly five times more carbon than t...
06/04/2026

Blue carbon ecosystems, such as mangroves, seagrasses, and tidal marshes, can store nearly five times more carbon than terrestrial forests. Knowing how much blue carbon we actually have is essential for developing truly effective policies and restoration strategies.

Taking it on an innovative approach, the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), with support from Microsoft, has launched an ambitious effort to map the coastline of Tamil Nadu using drones. By integrating Geo-AI, LiDAR, and other advanced geospatial techniques, the project aims to create high-resolution, accurate maps of coastal blue carbon ecosystems.

The goal is not just scientific insight, but climate action—building a robust, verifiable estimate of blue carbon stocks that can inform conservation planning, enable carbon offset mechanisms, and support credible carbon credit frameworks.

Visit our website for more information: https://www.mssrf.org/

As 32-year-old Chita Chendia built her own identity, her greatest strengths fuelled her journey: learning, adapting, and...
31/03/2026

As 32-year-old Chita Chendia built her own identity, her greatest strengths fuelled her journey: learning, adapting, and embracing farm innovations. 🌾

Explore her journey: https://www.mssrf.org/stories-of-change/odisha-woman-farmer-strength-millets

Women like Chita sustain our farms yet rarely receive due recognition. This International Year of the Woman Farmer, we’re spotlighting their resilience.

30/03/2026

On 21st March 2026, we came together to mark World Forests Day through a photo exhibition on Wetlands. We were honoured to have Rathika Ramasamy, our jury member for the competition, join us.

Here’s a message from Rathika Ramasamy, sharing her reflections, appreciation, and thoughts for all those who took part in this collective celebration of forests.

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