How do we bring nutrition through agriculture practices? This is the theme of the Regional Consultation on ‘Farming System for Nutrition’ which will be held from August 7-9 at M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, supported by the Tata Trusts.

Tamil Nadu leads in the Universal Public Distribution System. I am happy that Tamil Nadu has decided to continue the Universal Public Distribution System in order to insulate the population from hunger and malnutrition.

In recent months, we have lost several of our distinguished scientists who had not only made individual contributions to science but have contributed enormously to capacity and infrastructure building in various areas of national importance.

Currently, the price of tomato, onion and other commodities used extensively in urban areas is going up. Such price volatility is a perennial problem. We should find a permanent solution than merely take ad hoc steps to pacify the consumer.

MSSRF held a condolence meeting for eminent scientist and 1998 World Food laureate Dr Badrinarayan Ramulal Barwale, who passed away on July 24, 2017. He was one of the earliest well wishers of MSSRF in its development activities.

Even as Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s memorial was being inaugurated by the Prime Minister at Rameshwaram, MSSRF paid homage to the great scientist on his second death anniversary.

The M S Swaminathan Research Foundation will be part of a major research collaboration led by the University of Cambridge that will focus on food security in India. The project 'Transforming India's Green Revolution by Research and Empowerment for Sustainable Food Supplies' (TIGR2ESS) is part of the Global Challenges Research Fund. Researchers from the UK and India will work to build upon research knowledge in the UK to address challenges in developing countries.

Based on studies in Bangladesh, Nature (13 July 2017) carries a very important article on how poverty affects the brain.

Mr V V Sivan, Scientist at the Community Agrobiodiversity Centre-MSSRF, Wayanad, participated in the 6th Global Botanical Garden Congress in Geneva, Switzerland from June 25-30, 2017. He presented a paper 'Conserving the Rare Endemic and Threatened (RET) species of Western Ghats, India - the M S Swaminathan Botanical Garden Approach'.

Dr Santhosh Kumar Singh, Agricultural Specialist, at the United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, visited MSSRF today. He met Professor M S Swaminathan, Founder MSSRF and the staff of the Biotechnology Dpartment.

The Supreme Court has urged the Government of India to take a decision soon on the policy for the commercial release and cultivation of genetically modified crops like the GM mustard. In this connection I wish to recall what I wrote in a report submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture in 2004

Farmer representatives from six states came together for a day-long discussion on how the scientist-farmer interface could be strengthened. The discussion hosted at M S Swaminathan Research Foundation on behalf of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was an opportunity for scientists to listen to the farmers’ perspective on scientific and research agenda in agriculture.