Maternal and Child Nutrition and Food Systems

We build the evidence that shapes nutrition policy and practice. This means studying how well nutrition programmes reach families, testing better ways to understand what people eat, and looking closely at local and often overlooked foods that can improve diets. We connect this work to public nutrition systems, dietary diversity and the growing links between climate and nutrition. Our findings feed directly into recommendations for state governments and national policy makers.

Community Health Systems and Governance

We work at the frontline of community health, especially in tribal and remote areas. This means strengthening local health committees, improving teamwork between frontline health workers, and supporting community health champions who connect families to care. Our focus is on catching malnutrition and high-risk pregnancies early, following up with the children who need it most, and building stronger trust between communities and the health system.

Climate Resilience, Health and Well-being

Climate change including rising heat is becoming a serious health risk, and we are building the evidence to understand it. This means studying how extreme heat affects people's health, from outdoor workers to pregnant women and children. Our work combines household surveys, health assessments and community awareness, and it is helping lay the groundwork for early warning systems that can protect vulnerable communities as heat risks grow

One Health and Emerging Health Threats

Many health risks appear where people, animals, farms and the environment meet. Antimicrobial resistance is one of the clearest examples. We are building surveillance and evidence systems that span agriculture, livestock and aquaculture, working with research and veterinary institutions to track risk, encourage responsible antibiotic use, and support stronger state and national policy.

Home  > Our Work > Programme Areas > Biodiversity Management

The Biodiversity Programme at M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) champions biodiversity conservation while empowering rural and tribal communities. By blending traditional wisdom with modern science, the programme promotes food security, ecosystem resilience, and sustainable livelihoods across India’s biodiversity hotspots.

What We Focus On

On-Farm Biodiversity Conservation

We promote the conservation and sustainable use of traditional crops and agro-biodiversity through community-driven initiatives.

Economic Incentives for Conservation

By linking biodiversity to sustainable food and nutrition security, communities gain direct economic and health benefits.

Protecting Farmers’ Rights and Traditional Knowledge

We work to ensure indigenous farmers are recognized and rewarded for conserving agro-biodiversity through access and benefit-sharing mechanisms.

Conservation of Threatened Species and Ecosystems

Through partnerships, we restore habitats and protect endangered plant species critical to food security and ecosystem health.

Our Strategies

Plant Genetic Resources & Wild Foods We conserve underutilized crops, wild food species, and medicinal plants, safeguarding them for future generations.

Community-Managed Seed Systems By strengthening community genetic gardens and seed banks, farmers maintain control over local crop diversity.

Agroecology and On-Farm Diversity We promote integrated farming systems, nutrition gardens, and agroforestry that enhance farm productivity and resilience.

Nutri-Sensitive Value Chains We develop value chains around nutritious crops, creating markets for biodiversity-based products.

Capacity Building Training farmers, women’s groups, and local leaders on biodiversity conservation, agroecology, and farmers’ rights.

Conservation of Threatened Plant Species Establishing biodiversity parks and restoring endangered ecosystems to safeguard India's rich natural heritage.

Cross-Programme Collaboration

The Biodiversity Programme actively links with other MSSRF initiatives in:

• Biotechnology: For diversity mapping and bio-inputs.
• Agriculture, Nutrition & Health: To promote biodiversity-driven nutrition security.
• Ecotechnology: Improving soil, water, and integrated conservation practices.
• Climate: Supporting climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
• Gender, ICT & Institutional Development: Ensuring inclusivity and digital empowerment.