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 development. 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

In Tamil Nadu, women who rear silkworms and harvest cocoons are stabilising their finances and bolstering their self-con...
03/10/2026

In Tamil Nadu, women who rear silkworms and harvest cocoons are stabilising their finances and bolstering their self-confidence.

Manonmani, a woman farmer from Namakkal, has increased her income through sericulture. Moving past daily-wage work, many women like her are reshaping their families’ finances and taking on a bigger role in household decisions.

Through the Mina Swaminathan Media Fellowship, Kanmani Thangaraj reports for Vikatan on how women’s work in silk is quietly transforming their lives. Read the full story: https://mssrf.org/mssrf-media

A new chapter in the recognition of women in agriculture has begun in Maharashtra! Following the passage of the Women Fa...
02/10/2026

A new chapter in the recognition of women in agriculture has begun in Maharashtra!

Following the passage of the Women Farmers Empowerment Act, the first Women Farmers Certificates have been issued today at Gram Sabha level across several locations in Maharashtra.

With over 20 lakh women farmers having applied for the certificate across the state, this marks a big step towards making women's contributions to agriculture more visible and formally recognised.

The certificate serves as an official recognition of a woman’s identity as a farmer, irrespective of land ownership.

Importantly, the Act broadens the definition of a farmer to include anyone engaged in crop cultivation, animal husbandry, poultry, fisheries, agroforestry, vermiculture, mushroom cultivation, and primary processing, whether as a landowner or agricultural labourer.

Because being a farmer is defined by the work one does, not simply by the land one owns.

Government of Maharashtra - महाराष्ट्र शासन
Department of Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 | 𝐌.𝐒. 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 2026 – 𝐖𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundat...
01/10/2026

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 | 𝐌.𝐒. 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 2026 – 𝐖𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬

M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) invites applications from eligible postgraduate candidates for a 24-month research opportunity focused on wetlands and coastal ecosystems, contributing to ecosystem conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

Duration: 24 months
Application Deadline: 7 October 2026

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: 𝐡𝐭𝐭𝐩𝐬://𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐦𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐟.𝐨𝐫𝐠/𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬/𝐦𝐬-𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧-𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩-2026-𝐰𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬-𝐚𝐧𝐝-𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥-𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬

Creatures of our coasts, through the lens of a field researcher! 📸 An MSSRF field researcher takes us through the wetlan...
01/10/2026

Creatures of our coasts, through the lens of a field researcher! 📸

An MSSRF field researcher takes us through the wetlands, capturing the creatures that keep these ecosystems running. Some are engineers, some are recyclers, some are performers, and others are master tricksters.

Explore the photo essay: https://mssrf.org/stories-of-change

“We publish because we are a science-based organisation and our work has to be rigorous. But we are not satisfied with p...
29/09/2026

“We publish because we are a science-based organisation and our work has to be rigorous. But we are not satisfied with publications alone. The final test has to be impact at the level of communities” - Dr Soumya Swaminathan tells The Policy Edge in this conversation on why MSSRF's work matters and how it partners with the state to strengthen its impact.

Read here: https://mssrf.org/mssrf-media

Remembering Prof. M. S. Swaminathan, a visionary scientist, humanitarian and champion of farmers whose life demonstrated...
28/09/2026

Remembering Prof. M. S. Swaminathan, a visionary scientist, humanitarian and champion of farmers whose life demonstrated the power of science in the service of society.

Today, we remember Prof. M. S. Swaminathan with gratitude and renew our commitment to advancing his vision of sustainable agriculture, food and nutrition security, and inclusive development.

His vision lives on through the people, communities and ideas he inspired.

super El Niño is on its way, and it could be the most extreme in 100 years. The 2026/27 El Niño is expected to bring e...
28/09/2026

super El Niño is on its way, and it could be the most extreme in 100 years.

The 2026/27 El Niño is expected to bring exceptional climatic conditions to India's marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems, with impacts likely to ripple across farming, fishing, and pastoral communities.

In response, 188 of India's scientists and ecologists, including researchers from MSSRF, have come together to publish a joint appeal calling on fellow researchers and field practitioners to strengthen and expand research and monitoring efforts, so we can better understand and document its effects as they unfold.

Read the full Call to Action: https://zenodo.org/records/22794483

27/09/2026

The early years of life are a critical period for brain development, with millions of connections forming through nutrition, care, relationships, play, and everyday experiences.

In this episode of Science Simply, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan explains why the first few years matter so much, how maternal and child nutrition support brain development, and how simple activities like talking, reading, singing, and playing can shape a child’s learning, health, and well-being.

Listen, learn, and join the conversation!

Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India |

26/09/2026

Breastfeeding can help protect newborns against infections.

In the latest episode of Science Simply, Dr Soumya Swaminathan highlights how maternal health, nutrition, care and play shape brain development in the early years.

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=359GDMIJlao

Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India |

26/09/2026

Education isn’t the only way to stimulate children. Play is an underrated way for parents to encourage brain development.

Under the guidance of Mina Swaminathan, MSSRF developed Messages that Move – a video-first awareness campaign that ran on Doordarshan TV channels from 1995 to1998.

This series drove awareness on early childhood – emphasising the role of maternal health, child nutrition, care, and play in the well-being and development of infants and children.

Explore other Messages that Move: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzBW9IguAXpYha_i5dOp1pjwZ0iRzWws-

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