MSSRF @mssrf

Climate change is a public health crisis, and its impacts are growing more apparent every day. Watch Dr. Soumya Swaminathan’s (@doctorsoumya) lecture at the #VillarsInstitute Summit 2026: youtu.be/kcPWuKLT5xw?si… #climatechange #climateandhealth #publichealth #heat

“In our village, men are usually seen as the breadwinners, even though it is not always true.” With quiet determination, Nilla has built her own identity as a dairy farmer. Support from the Kulumai Milk Producers Company marked a turning point—bringing greater transparency, fair pricing and dignity to her labour. Read her story: mssrf.org/stories-of-cha… #IYWF2026 #IYWF #womenfarmers #dairyfarming

This #WorldEnvironmentDay, MSSRF turned to indigenous knowledge, nature-based solutions and community participation as pathways to a climate resilient future. MSSRF’s Seed Festival in Odisha spotlit indigenous seed conservation. In Wayanad, tree planting drives mobilised community action, while MSSRF’s staff in Chennai brainstormed ways to further strengthen the relationship between our theories and practice. Read more: mssrf.org/stories-of-cha…

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As temperatures in India continue to rise, we are reminded that heat does not affect everyone equally. Children, women, outdoor workers, and senior citizens, are at a greater risk of long-term health impacts. In the latest episode of Science Simply, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan points to the risk factors and preventative measures to safeguard your health.

At @tabc_mssrf Jeypore, ~120 farmers participated in a seed exchange program. 10 custodian farmers were awarded Rs 10,000 each for their conservation efforts. Community seed banks are strong in #Odisha & many traditional varieties of crops are cultivated. @PPVFRAIndia @mssrf

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This #WorldOceanDay we revisit ghost gear — a growing danger to ocean health and coastal livelihoods. How did it escalate, and how do we solve for it? Read more: mssrf.org/stories-of-cha…

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Tonnes of plastic nets drifting through the deep sea, trapping fish, crabs, turtles — with no one at the other end of the line. This is #GhostGear. Synthetic fishing equipment that breaks down into microplastics and quietly enters our food chain. Invisible to the naked eye, but

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Coastal communities are at the heart of ocean stewardship. This #WorldOceanDay, let’s recognise their leadership as critical in our mission to protect our coasts. At MSSRF, we work closely with fishers in Marine Protected Areas like Palk Bay, strengthening their role in protecting marine ecosystems while supporting sustainable livelihoods. From tackling ghost gear to enabling its recovery, segregation, and upcycling, these community-led efforts are creating tangible change. Linking conservation with livelihood opportunities, coastal communities are restoring ocean health and building resilience in the face of growing environmental pressures. #Fishers #CoastalCommunities #PalkBay #MarineLife #GhostGear

“Wanted! Seas and Oceans – Dead or Alive?” This was the urgent call of #WorldEnvironmentDay in 2004. Reflecting on it then, Prof. M.S. Swaminathan spoke of the need for a sea care movement—one rooted in community action, awareness, and sustainable stewardship of our coasts. Crucially, he also highlighted the importance of delivering timely, reliable information to fishers at sea. Today, that vision lives on through MSSRF’s Fisher Friendly Mobile App that uses technology to empower livelihoods. #FromMSSRFArchives

We picked chits. We passed a ball. We travelled to 2030. This World Environment Day, MSSRF turned the spotlight inward and asked its staff: What should climate action look like? And what role should MSSRF play? From personal stories about changing weather to bold visions for the future, the room was full of ideas, questions, and hope. Because building a better future starts with listening. #WorldEnvironmentDay #ClimateAction #PlanetaryHealth #Biohappiness

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What does "planetary health" mean to you? On World Environment Day, we put the question to our colleagues through a live word cloud. As the responses poured in, one word stood out above all others: Biohappiness A term championed by Prof. M. S. Swaminathan, Biohappiness reminds us that human well-being and the health of nature are deeply connected. A simple question. One powerful answer. #WorldEnvironmentDay #Biohappiness #PlanetaryHealth #MSSRF #InspiredByNature

MSSRF is working with state governments to strengthen the rights and recognition of women farmers, with a particular focus on land ownership and access to resources. Building on Prof. M. S. Swaminathan's long-standing vision for gender equity in agriculture, these efforts aim to ensure that women farmers receive the support, opportunities, and legal recognition they deserve. Read the piece on @CivilSocietyIND: mssrf.org/mssrf-media @doctorsoumya #womenfarmers #IYWF2026 #IYWF

We’re in the grip of extreme summer heat — with temperatures rising year after year due to climate change. But have you paused to think about who is most affected? Let’s take a closer look. Extreme heat doesn’t impact everyone equally. Older adults, young children, outdoor workers, people with chronic illnesses, and those living in densely built or low-resource settings are among the most vulnerable. ▶️ Watch “Dangerous Heat: Who is at most risk” youtu.be/Yiw86_AP3uo?si…

Kanmani Thangaraj, our 2026 Mina Swaminathan Media Fellow, has published her first story as part of the fellowship. Written for Vikatan, “Friend of the Bees… A Guide to Village Women! A Journey in Harmony with Nature” highlights sustainable honey harvesting practices and the importance of living in harmony with nature. Read the full piece here: mssrf.org/mssrf-media #MinaSwaminathanMediaFellowship #WomenInAgriculture #IYWF

In conversation with Anuradha Mascarenhas @runaanu, @IndianExpress, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan @doctorsoumya shares why science must translate into real impact on people — and why research should always serve society. Read more: mssrf.org/mssrf-media

Climate impacts and overreliance on #chemicalinputs are putting our food systems, health and ecosystems at risk. ➡️ At our recent policy workshop “Ecological Intensification through Co‑flowering Crops,” held in partnership with the University of Reading @UniofReading, policymakers, researchers, NGOs and farmers explored nature‑positive practices that boost yields, biodiversity and farmer resilience: mssrf.org/stories-of-cha… Prof Michael Garratt and Deepa Senapathi @deepa_sena (Department of Sustainable Land Management, University of Reading @UniRdg_SAPD) shared examples such as growing sesame around mango orchards. Discussions covered strengthening natural enemies for pest control, the soil microbiome, and farmer motivations and barriers. Insights from the workshop will feed targeted policy briefs for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, with potential scale‑up nationally. @Rengalakshmi10 @doctorsoumya @UniofReading

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Farmers, indigenous community members, scientists, policymakers, and youth groups came together at Yazali for the Arunachal Pradesh Jaiv Vividhata & Mvm Liid Soonam / Beej Utsav 2026 to celebrate agrobiodiversity, traditional knowledge, and climate resilience. Organised by the 16th Yachuli MLA Office, KVK Keyi Panyor, ArSRLM, and MSSRF, the event gained special significance after Keyi Panyor was recognised as a “Biohappy District.” The two-day consultation, inaugurated by Agriculture and Horticulture Minister Gabriel D. Wangsu, explored community-led conservation, resilient food systems, and the importance of indigenous seed systems in the Eastern Himalayan region. MSSRF Chairperson Dr. Soumya Swaminathan highlighted the urgent need to document and conserve local biodiversity in the face of climate change. She also stressed the importance of sustainable development models rooted in ecological balance and community knowledge. Discussions focused on seed sovereignty, women’s role in biodiversity conservation, indigenous ecological wisdom, sustainable livelihoods, and the idea of Biohappiness connecting biodiversity with well-being, culture, and resilience. Glimpses from the event...

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At the Arunachal Pradesh Jaiv Vividhata & Beej Utsav, Keyi Panyor - happy to welcome Hon Agriculture Minister Gabriel Wangsu who spoke about the importance of seed sovereignty, gene & seed banks & need to use bio resources sustainably, esp with climate change. @mssrf @atree_org

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Congratulations to our Chairperson, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan (@doctorsoumya), on being elected a Fellow of The Royal Society (@royalsociety), the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. She is only the second woman from India to receive this honour. Following in the footsteps of her father, Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, she now joins a distinguished group of scientists whose work has shaped our understanding of the world. The Royal Society's Fellows and Foreign Members include some of history's greatest minds, such as Stephen Hawking, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Lise Meitner, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, and Dorothy Hodgkin. Congratulations once again Dr. Soumya. More power to you! ➡️ Read the full Royal Society press release here: mssrf.org/sites/default/… #WomenInScience #SoumyaSwaminathan

#WATCH | Delhi: On heat wave, former WHO Chief Scientist, Dr Soumya Swaminathan says, “…a large part of India is very vulnerable to the impact of heat…the kind of temperatures we are seeing now are very close to the limit of human tolerability. We need a multi-sectoral response to this extreme heat, which is a threat to lives as well as livelihoods…it's not only the health centers which need to be prepared…beyond the health sector, we need action across multiple departments and ministries. It's a right time for India to set up a heat commission, a commission that will make recommendations on what should be the interventions that we have to put in place to protect lives and livelihoods…humid heat is actually a bigger threat to health, because the body is unable to cool itself down…we need geography specific definitions of heat wave and we need to heat warnings and individualized heat recommend guidelines, guidance to people…once you're into a heat stroke, then it's very rapidly can become fatal.”