The Resilient Farm and Food Systems Research Program, is dedicated to advancing agricultural land and water management strategies alongside innovative livelihood options. Our focus lies in sustainable intensification, complemented by multi-stakeholder innovation platform processes within landscapes that seamlessly connect productivity enhancements to broader impacts.
Within the program, we are committed to developing regenerative and low carbon landscapes. Our initiatives encompass groundbreaking innovations in soil health monitoring and management, specifically designed for climate change adaptation and mitigation. This includes the exploration of pathways for carbon credits and nature credits, contributing to a more sustainable agricultural future.
At the core of our efforts is the development, validation, and scaling of improved and resilient farming systems. This involves the integration and intensification of crops and livestock-agroforestry systems, fostering diversification, risk management, income generation, and resource conservation.
We are pioneers in the application of new-generation climate information services, coupled with information and communication technology (ICT), to facilitate the delivery of decision support-enabled information. This approach aims to de-risk farm management and empower farmers with the tools they need for informed decision-making in the face of climate variability.
To address the challenges of agricultural operations and processing, our program emphasizes the scaling of value chain mechanization and digital innovations. By reducing drudgery in primary agricultural operations and processing, such as land preparation, sowing, weeding, fertilizer application, and harvesting, we strive to enhance efficiency and productivity in the agricultural value chain.
Furthermore, we leverage geospatial and big data science, along with modeling tools, to make informed decisions that build resilient dryland systems. This strategic use of technology enables us to navigate the complexities of agricultural landscapes and make sustainable choices for the benefit of both farmers and the environment.
In our pursuit of resilience, we actively predict extreme weather events, as well as pest and disease outbreaks, utilizing early warning systems and response advisories. Through this proactive approach, we aim to empower farmers with timely information to protect their crops and livelihoods.
Agricultural land and water management strategies and livelihood options – sustainable intensification strategies coupled with multi-stakeholder innovation platform processes that link productivity improvement to wider impacts.
Testing and scaling of improved and resilient farming systems (integration and intensification of crops and livestock-agroforestry systems) and rotations that support diversification, risk management, income generation, resource conservation and sustainability.
The use of climate information services coupled with ICT to enable delivery systems to scale decision support information and de-risk farm management.
Mechanization and digital innovations to reduce drudgery in primary agricultural operations (land preparation, sowing, weeding, fertilizer application and harvesting) and processing (threshing, chopping, dehulling).
Predicting extreme weather events or pest and disease outbreaks linked to early warning systems and response advisories.
Global Research Program Director - Resilient Farm and Food Systems - India
