Sustainable Agriculture

The global population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, raising concerns about feeding these increasing numbers without further degrading the environment. Our work focuses on bringing sustainability in agricultural practices by developing plant and microbe derived products that reduce the use of chemical fertilisers while substantially improving crop yields. We are making strides in using nano biotechnology to develop a range of green products including nano-fertilisers, superfoods and algal based bioenergy. We demonstrate change by helping farming communities improve their livelihood through our products and practices.

agriculture narrative

NEW IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

  • Agricultura Coalition

     

    Discussion

    Food and Land Resources: Incorporating Watershed-Based Approaches for Better Sustainability-Productivity Balance

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  • Mycorrhizal Research

    Report

    State of Science, Technology and Innovation Skills for Sustainability of India's Food and Land-use Systems

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  • cooling plants

     

    Recent Events

    Nanobiotechnology in natural food colours

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  • TERI and CFCL

     

    Launch

    TERI and CFCL launch Mycorrhiza Product

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  • cooling plants

     

    Report

    Locked houses, Fallow lands: Climate Change and Migration in Uttarakhand, India

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Projects

Articles

Nano steps towards Climate Smart Agriculture

Its deceptively small size is no measure of its impact. Nanotechnology may work at a small scale, but the minuscule size of nanomaterials belies their efficiency. Little wonder then that the technology is being increasingly applied in agriculture to enhance efficacy and, importantly, to shrink the adverse impact of conventional chemical fertilizers on the environment and health.

A comparative assessment of biomass pretreatment methods for the sustainable industrial upscaling of rice straw into cellulose

Source- Cellulose

Publisher- Springer Nature

Year- 18 March 2023

Weblink- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10570-023-05161-4

This paper gives a comprehensive characteristic comparison of cellulose-rich variants obtained from the rice straw using different pretreatment methods along with the preliminary cost analyses indicating their potential economic feasibility.

International Year of Millets

Renewed Focus on Nutrition Storehouse

The United Nations General Assembly at its 75th session in March 2021 declared 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023). In this article, Livleen K Kahlon says that with the UNGA declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets, there’s a renewed focus on these nutritious grains. This move will serve best in the interest of developing countries, where almost 97 per cent of global millet production happens. But, it is going to take a lot of effort to change the mindset and lifestyles of consumers towards a millet-positive diet.

India’s Women Farmers: The Unimagined Mass

India is known for its agricultural produce, but what we do not know, or perhaps tend to overlook, is the contribution of women in the growth of this sector. In this article, Himanshu Kumar and Vivek Kumar enlighten us about the role of women in the agriculture sector and some of the problems they face.

Events

Hack4Agri

October 15, 2024
to October 15, 2024

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in partnership with The Australian Government, announces Project ‘Hack4Agri’- an initiative to engage the youth of Karnataka to ideate, innovate, incubate, and implement scalable solutions to address post-harvest losses in the agricultural sector.

World Sustainable Development Summit 2024

February 7, 2024
to February 9, 2024

 7-9 February 2024 | New Delhi

GO4YOUTH

January 31, 2024
to January 31, 2024

Book Release: TERI Energy & Environment Data Diary and Yearbook (TEDDY) 2022-23

January 23, 2024
to January 23, 2024

TERI Energy & Environment Data Diary and Yearbook (TEDDY) is an annual publication brought out by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) since 1986. TEDDY presents latest information on energy supply sectors (coal and lignite, petroleum and natural gas, power and renewable energy sources), energy demand sectors (agriculture, industry, transport, residential, and commercial sectors), and environment (local and global). It seeks to support policy research and decision-making by providing policymakers and researchers with the data which can be used to develop actionable solutions.

SDG Blueprint for Sustainable Agriculture: Second Expert Consultation (26th September)

November 26, 2023
to November 26, 2023

The project SDG Blueprint for Sustainable Agriculture conducted five expert consultations to seek insights into the interlinkages between the SDGs and sustainable agriculture at the policy interface at the national level in India.

The consultations witnessed the participation of 123 experts hailing from diverse backgrounds including government, think tanks, international organizations, businesses, and academics.

The expert consultation took place on 26th September 2023 and covered SDG 1, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 5 and SDG 10.

SDG Blueprint for Sustainable Agriculture: First Expert Consultation (22nd September)

November 22, 2023
to November 22, 2023

The project SDG Blueprint for Sustainable Agriculture conducted five expert consultations to seek insights into the interlinkages between the SDGs and sustainable agriculture at the policy interface at the national level in India.

The consultations witnessed the participation of 123 experts hailing from diverse backgrounds including government, think tanks, international organizations, businesses, and academics.

The first expert consultation took place on 22nd September 2023 and covered SDG 7, SDG 13, and SDG 14.

News

Traditional Knowledge for Resilient Agriculture in Northeast India

September 2, 2024
| Dr Dipankar Saharia
| Agriculture Today Magazine

It is important to note that while indigenous traditional knowledge exists in the Northeast region, its documentation is not a priority among the local communities, says Dr Dipankar Saharia, Senior Fellow and Senior Director, TERI.

Hindustan Zinc Collaborates with TERI to Transform Wasteyard into Green belt

August 28, 2024 |
August 28, 2024
The Hans India

Hindustan Zinc Limited the world's second-largest integrated zinc producer and the world's most sustainable metals and mining company according to S&P Global, has initiated the second phase of transformation of 16 hectares of wasteland at the Chanderiya Lead-Zinc Smelter into a flourishing greenbelt. By leveraging Mycorrhiza technology, in collaboration with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Hindustan Zinc is enhancing biodiversity and protecting natural ecosystems around its operational units.

Assam: Udalguri Krishi Vigyan Kendra organizes Stakeholders Meet 

August 19, 2024 |
August 19, 2024
The Sentinel Assam

Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Udalguri recently organized a stakeholder' consultation program at its meeting hall with the participation of 50 farmers and stakeholders from various villages of Udalguri district. The project "Developing a Voluntary Carbon Market Project for Agro forestry Plantations and Regenerative Agriculture in the State of Assam" developed by Assam Agricultural University, The Energy and Resources Institute, and ReNew.

Dyeing for a Change: The Upcoming Frontier of Eco-Fashion

August 1, 2024
| Dr Mayurika Goel
| Agriculture Today Magazine

Microbial colours from bacteria, fungi, algae, and lichens, have an edge in scalability with lower production costs and no seasonal variations, says Dr Mayurika Goel, Fellow, Sustainable Agriculture Division, TERI.

Micropropagation Technology Park: A unique facility for quality planting material

July 31, 2024
| Dr Vibha Dhawan and Dr Shyam Sundar Sharma
| Agriculture Today Magazine

By taking advantage of plant tissue culture technique, TERI is a pioneer in developing a tissue culture unit for mass multiplication of economically important plant species, particularly horticultural crops like bananas and potatoes, says Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI and Dr Shyam Sundar Sharma, Fellow, Sustainable Agriculture Division, TERI.

UP govt to bolster income of farmers through ‘carbon finance’

July 15, 2024 |
July 15, 2024
The Statesman

In a remarkable initiative, the Uttar Pradesh government is boosting farmers’ incomes through ‘carbon finance,’ encouraging them to participate in this plantation drive. The state is set to break records by planting 36.50 crore saplings on July 20. As part of the Centre’s ambitious goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, farmers will gain additional income from carbon credits by planting fast-growing trees such as Poplar, Melia, Dubia, and Semal. These carbon credits will be purchased every five years at a rate of six US dollars per credit, officials said on 15 July 2024.

Policy

Food and Land Resources: Incorporating Watershed-Based Approaches for Better Sustainability-Productivity Balance

August 4, 2021

The overall purpose of watershed programmes is to enhance incomes, provide food security through sustainable agriculture and prudent management of natural resources. This directly corresponds to SDG 1 and 2, i.e. No poverty and Zero Hunger respectively.

Guidelines for Evaluation of Nano-based Agri-input and Food Products in India

August 6, 2020

Nanobiotechnology applications in food production and agriculture have a lot of potential. However, India did not have adequate guidelines to regulate the same. Until now.

Women in agriculture: Enhancing their role and promoting sustainability and livelihood support

May 26, 2020

The paper looks at enhancing the role of women in agriculture and allied activities and providing institutional support

Discussion Paper : Organic Agriculture: An option for fostering sustainable and inclusive agriculture development in India

June 2, 2015

Land scarcity, degraded ecosystems and climate change are pressures that the agriculture sector confronts in the 21st century whilst needing to meet demands for food, feed and fibre, preserve natural resources as well as ensure profitability, economic and social equity (FAO, 2015). Industrialized agriculture,1 which is capital intensive, substituting animal and human labour with machines and purchased inputs (IAASTD, 2009) has been the favoured model for agriculture development due to its tremendous success in increasing food production.

Strengthening Agricultural Biotechnology Regulation in India

September 22, 2010

The recent decision by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to place an indefinite moratorium on the release of Bt Brinjal for commercial agriculture has brought sharp focus on the stridently polarized views across the scientific community and civil society on the benefits and costs of genetically modified crops.

Services

Technology for reclaming wastelands

We provide expertise in greening and reclamation of wasteland to turn it into green, productive land. We do this using a beneficial group of micro-organisms known as mycorrhizal fungi. Successful examples of sites reclaimed using this technology include fly ash overburdens, alkali chlor-laden sites, distillery effluent discharge sites, phosphogypsum ponds, coal mines, red mud, saline and arid sites.

Next generation technology to produce high-quality mycorrhiza

Mycorrhiza is a biofertiliser that helps promote plant growth in an environment-friendly manner and provides several benefits during the plant cultivation stages. Our in-vitro mass production technology uses a sterile, contamination-free environment, to commerciallly produce this high-quality mycorrhiza, which is viable, healthy, and genetically pure. Our next generation technology for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is suitable for industries and requires less space for maximum recovery of propagules (up to 1000 billion propagules/annum).

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Team

Distinguished Fellow, Sustainable Agriculture
Director, Mycorrhiza Commercial Production
Associate Director, Nano Commercial Production
Fellow and Area Convenor, Agricultural Biotechnology
Area Convener, Micropropagation Technology Park