Transforming Food Systems in India

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 until 7 February 2026. Update 2 February 2026: We closed the registration form because we have reached maximal capacity for the event. Thank you so much for your interest!

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.

More on the topic

Agroecology, our core competence

Agroecology is at the heart of all our projects. It is the foundation of our work. The multi-layered approach of agroecology strengthens the natural cycles in the ecosystem, conserves resources such as soil and reduces dependence on external factors such as chemical fertilisers. In addition, the cultivation method strengthens the fields and thus the farming families against the effects of climate change.

Traditional diversity instead of new simplicity

Farm-saved seeds are diverse and well adapted to local conditions – they also form the basis for healthy yet affordable nutrition. Therefore, it fulfils all the requirements for making local food systems more independent and resilient. Especially in the context of the ongoing pandemic and the global climate crisis, this sows hope.

Indian women breathe new life into millet farming

In the Indian state of Karnataka, a group of women has achieved an incredible feat: they revived the cultivation of millet, an ancient, long-forgotten native grain. This SWISSAID partner project has now won the prestigious “Equator Prize 2025” from the United Nations Development Program.