Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the MS Swaminathan Centenary International Conference at ICAR PUSA, New Delhi, urged India’s scientific community to shift focus from ensuring food security to building nutritional security.
Celebrating the legacy of Dr MS Swaminathan — the father of India’s Green Revolution — PM Modi called upon researchers and farmers to embrace innovation for a healthier and more sustainable future.
“Building on the legacy of food security, the next frontier for our agricultural scientists is ensuring nutritional security for all,” the Prime Minister said, highlighting how the groundwork laid by past generations now offers new opportunities for transformation.
PM Modi emphasised the large-scale promotion of bio-fortified and nutrition-rich crops to improve public health outcomes.
He also advocated for a reduction in chemical use and a stronger push towards natural farming, noting that these practices are crucial for both human and environmental health.
“There is a need for urgency and proactive effort to promote natural methods in agriculture,” he said, reiterating the government’s commitment to sustainability and wellness in the 21st century.
Honouring Dr Swaminathan’s Legacy
PM Modi praised Dr Swaminathan’s foresight on climate-resilient farming, recalling his work on millets, drought-tolerant crops, and salt-resilient varieties.
The Prime Minister cited Swaminathan’s idea of transferring the genetic traits of mangroves into rice, calling it a remarkable example of visionary thinking, especially relevant today as the world grapples with climate change.
“Professor Swaminathan believed that the answers to both nutritional and climate challenges lie in the crops we have ignored,” PM Modi stated.
Calling food ‘a sacred element of life’, PM Modi warned that crises of food inevitably lead to crises of life and global instability. He underscored the need to respect and protect food systems, both ethically and scientifically.
In a significant announcement, the Prime Minister introduced the MS Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace, an international honour that will recognise individuals from developing nations who have made impactful contributions in the field of food security and sustainable agriculture.
Concluding his address, PM Modi said that India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation depends on the participation of every citizen, profession, and sector, with agriculture and science playing a central role in shaping the country’s future.
The event served as both a tribute to Dr Swaminathan’s enduring legacy and a blueprint for the next era of Indian agriculture — one that nourishes not just the stomach, but also the nation’s health and resilience.
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