Professor M S Swaminathan has been honoured by the University of MInnesota with Doctor of Siceince award for his work in developing new varieties of wheat and rice and working hand in hand with farmers.

Turning his back on a lucrative career and a vibrant life in the cities, Chennai-born Anirudh Prasadh has no hesitation in speaking about the changes he wants to make in rural India within the next one year and his dream to be that change agent.

"Every Indian has grown one inch taller as a result of the success of Mangalyaan," says Professor M S Swaminathan, Founder Chairman MSSRF. In a letter today to Dr K Radhakrishnan, Chairman ISRO. Professor Swaminathan writes, "I recall that when some years ago you brought a letter to me about the Moon Mission and I enthusiastically supported since I was convinced that we have enormous untapped scientific and technological capacity in our country, particularly in the field of space science and application.  I also recall that in 1968 with the help of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, we launched the first remote sensing study to understand the spread of the root wilt disease in Kerala.  From that time to Mangalayaan, we have had a great leap forward in our national capacity. This is due to the dedication and competence of scientists like you and all other colleagues. I congratulate you all and wish you continued success in keeping the flag of India on the forefront of space exploration."

Prof. M S Swaminathan has been honored by the University Of Agriculture, Faislabad, with a Science doctorate, for his contribution in farm research and allied areas of plant-breeding, genetics, biodiversity and ecological studies. University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, is the oldest agricultural university in the sub-continent and it has been ranked among the 100 top universities of the world.

Every student should become a hunger fighter to overcome malnutrition in the country, said noted scientist, Professor M S Swaminathan, Founder, MSSRF.

MSSRF's communication initiatives for fisher folk came in very handy during the Hudhud cyclone. The initiative has been giving real-time information to fishers in Tamil Nadu (since 2011) Andhra Pradesh and Odisha (since 2012) through various methods including 24 hour helpline, audio message and mobile application for fisher folk.

Sometimes the simplest of solutions can have the most effective results for nutrition.

A round table meeting of representatives working the agriculture and nutrition spheres was hosted by the University of Agriculture, Faislabad on Sunday, 17 August evening. The meeting chaired by Dr. Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the PM on National Security & Foreign Affairs, Government of Pakistan. Professor Swaminathan made a presentation on Farming System for Nutrition and this was followed by discussion. The participants included faculty members of the university, representatives from the Pakistan Planning Commission, GAIN, Micronutrient Initiative, Save the Children and Harvest Plus.

A series of communication technology initiatives that have helped over one lakh fisherfolk across Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Odisha access information for better livelihood, safety, access to markets and schemes is now set to roll out in Kerala. 

The need to have a co-ordinated approach to across the Asia Pacific region to tackle hunger and malnutrition, was the main theme that emerged from the speakers at the International Conference on Family Farming on achieving the Zero Hunger Challenge held at M S Swaminathan Foundation in Chennai today.

Chennai, August 7, 2014: Ministerial delegates from the Asia-Pacific Region and over 200 senior diplomats, academicians and representatives from international and national organizations gather in Chennai today, for a four-day consultation on “Achieving the Zero Hunger Challenge” at M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF). The consultation is organized in the context of the UN “International Year of Family Farming” (IYFF) being observed this year. MSSRF is organizing the event in partnership with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, World Food Programme (WFP), International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), Department for International Development (DFID) UK, UN Women, Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium other national and international agencies. Key Speakers at the Consultation include: Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of IFAD Ertharin Cousin Executive Director, United Nations World Food Programme Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO Regional Representative for Asia-Pacific Shenggen Fan, Director General, IFPRI Estrella Penunia, Secretary General, Asian Farmers’ Association Dr Mahmoud Solh, ICARDA, Director General Hoonae Kim, Director Asia and the Pacific, IFAD Ms. Lise Grande, UN Resident Coordinator & UNDP Resident Representative in India Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, Emeritus Chairman and Chief Mentor, MSSRF Dr. Rebecca Reichman Tavares, Regional Representative, UN Women Dr. Pravesh Sharma, Managing Director, SFAC Mr. Torben Due, India Country Director, WFP Dr. Peter E. Kenmore, Representative in India, FAO Thiru Agri S. S. Krishnamoorthy, Agriculture Minister, Tamil Nadu delivers a special address and releases the report of MSSRF for the year. Speaking about the event recently, Professor M S Swaminathan, Founder and Chief Mentor, MSSRF, referred to this as “the largest-ever gathering of ministerial delegates and experts, in recent years” and emphasized the importance of the IYFF. “Family farming offers an effective and economic solution to help meet the challenge of making sure that each person has access not just to calories but to nutritious food. With an estimated 500 million family farms across the world, we are looking at the role 2 billion people play, in achieving nutrition security.” The conference consists of 5 plenary sessions dealing with themes of sustainability, gender, profitability, nutrition and technology in relation to family farming. State Agriculture Minister Thiru Agri Krishnamurthy, ministers /ministerial delegates from Afghanistan, Australia, Cambodia, Fiji, Maldives, Nepal, Samoa, Sri Lanka and Vietnam are participating. With an estimated 8 billion mouths to feed by 2025, experts at the consultation will come up with a Chennai Declaration with recommendations for Governments and stakeholders in the region. Established in 1988, with proceeds from the First World Food Prize that Professor Swaminathan received in 1987, MSSRF applies science and technology options to address practical problems faced by rural populations in agriculture, food and nutrition, impacting livelihood of 100,000 farmers and fisherfolk every day with influence that spreads across 18 countries. For more information contact: Jayashree, Head – Media Resource Centre, (+91 44) 22541698, (+91) 9840050444, info@mssrf.res.in www.mssrf.org/iyff Twitter @mssrf

In a global recognition of the Foundation’s work in water and food security initiatives, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, was placed second at the global Humanitarian Water and Food Award (WAF) for its Community Managed Bio industrial Watersheds initiative.