Industrial farming practices are leaving harmful marks on India’s agricultural resources. 30% of the soils are degraded, groundwater is depleting fast, and biodiversity – specifically critical soil microbes, insects and birds – continues to disappear. Furthermore, these practices contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, rendering Indian food systems ever more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The resulting losses in production have pushed marginalised communities – in particular small farmers, women, and Indigenous peoples – further towards malnutrition, debts and poverty. According to the FAO, half of India’s population is unable to afford a healthy diet.
Change is needed. Evidence shows: agroecological methods can make a significant difference. They do not require high costs, utilise climate resilient local seeds, reduce the need for chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and increase biodiversity and soil health. They are incredibly accessible and can help smallholder farmers, especially women farmers, to improve their food security and secure their livelihoods.
Agroecology for sustainable food system transformation
But how to effectively transform India’s food systems? Which steps need to be taken? What are key lessons to take away from successful initiatives?
A SWISSAID webinar on 9 February 2026, 16:00-17:15 IST / 11:30-12:45 CET aims to provide helpful answers with a keynote speech, input presentations, and a panel discussion. Join us by registering below until 7 February 2026. Scroll further down to get a first glimpse into the programme.
The programme includes:
- A keynote speech by Shalmali Guttal, Senior analyst at Focus on Global South and a member of the IPES Food Panel and the UN working group on UNDROP, linking India’s issues with global discussions on food system transformation
- A presentation by Rajeev Ahal, Director of Natural Resource Management and Agroecology at GIZ India, on transforming agriculture and food systems through strategic government partnerships at the provincial and national levels.
- An input by Marc de Sousa-Shields, Country Director of IFAD on developing profitable and nutrition-sensitive value chains for better health and improved livelihoods for smallholder farmers
- Evidence-based insights from T. Vijay Kumar, Executive Vice Chairman of RySS and Advisor to the Agriculture and Cooperation Department of Andhra Pradesh, on how to scale up natural farming to boost yields, income and climate resilience simultaneously
- Actionable takeaways from Kavita Gandhi, Country Representative of SWISSAID India, on linking neglected and underutilised species with market development and women’s empowerment to improve diets and incomes.
