M S Swaminathan Research Foundation - MSSRF

10/06/2026

“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: https://mssrf.org/stories-of-change

09/06/2026

This , 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: https://mssrf.org/stories-of-change

09/06/2026

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.

08/06/2026

This 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: https://www.mssrf.org/stories-of-change/ghost-gear-explainer

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 ghost gear. Synthetic fishing equipment that breaks down into microplastics, is ingested by marine life, and quietly enters our food systems. Invisible to the naked eye, but a very real threat to ocean and human health.

Here's a closer look at ghost gear, the waste management crisis keeping the threat afloat, and how a circular approach can help tackle the problem: https://www.mssrf.org/stories-of-change

08/06/2026

Coastal communities are at the heart of ocean stewardship. This , 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.

07/06/2026

“Wanted! Seas and Oceans – Dead or Alive?” This was the urgent call of 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.

05/06/2026

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?

The ideas came fast.
🌿Can we reduce the need for online deliveries?
🌿Can we use public transport more often?
🌿What can we learn from communities that have lived in balance with nature for generations?
🌿How do we bring more young people into climate decision-making?
🌿 What would MSSRF need to do today to become a climate leader by 2030?

The most exciting part? There were no wrong answers.

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.

05/06/2026

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.

The word cloud also featured words like biodiversity, resilience, balance, sustainability, and harmony, showing that when we think about the future, we think about people and nature thriving together.

A simple question. One powerful answer.

04/06/2026

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 Civil Society: mssrf.org/mssrf-media

03/06/2026

Heat affects people differently, and children are among the most vulnerable — with implications for learning and development.

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan unpacks the contributing risk factors in the latest episode of Science Simply. View “Dangerous Heat: Who Is Most at Risk” on MSSRF’s YouTube