MSSRF

M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation | Science for Sustainable Development 🌱

[MSSRF @mssrf]

Have you ever taken an antibiotic without a doctor’s prescription? That small choice can speed up bacteria becoming resistant — and push us closer to a world where common infections are harder to treat. But we can still change the course.

In the latest Science Simply episode, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan breaks down how human misuse of antibiotics fuels the rise of superbugs — and what each of us can do to slow them down.

▶️ “When Superbugs Win” — watch now on MSSRF’s YouTube: https://t.co/KKIEdpKj7l

#superbugs #antimicrobialresistance #antibiotics

[Deccan Centre @DeccancentreIR]

“One Earth, One Health, One Future”, in his inaugural address Prof. Dr. Ajay Kumar Sood (@PrinSciAdvGoI ), PSA to the Govt. of India emphasized the need for integrated action across human, animal, & environmental health to build a more resilient, biosecure, & sustainable future.

[Deccan Centre @DeccancentreIR]

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan (@doctorsoumya), Chairperson of @mssrf, in her address called for a shift from reaction to prevention through a #OneHealth approach, emphasizing science-led decision-making, federal coordination, and stronger preparedness for future health challenges.

[Down To Earth @down2earthindia]

Rainwater harvesting and farm ponds in Odisha’s Koraput district are transforming rainfed, single-season paddy fields into integrated, year-round livelihoods with crops, fisheries, vegetables and vermicompost, boosting incomes, food security and climate resilience for small farmers, writes @tripatikhura of @mssrf

https://t.co/aACy1lkW45

#Odisha #Koraput #RainwaterHarvesting #IntegratedFarming #SustainableAgriculture #ClimateResilience #WaterManagement #RainfedFarming

[MSSRF @mssrf]

"Through my MSS Fellowship, I’ve come to see weeds as vital keystone species that sustain native pollinators—and through them, farmer livelihoods. This fellowship has been a turning point, allowing me to work at the intersection of disciplines—linking ecology, agriculture, and citizen science—and see science translate into real, tangible benefits for communities" - Indhu A, MSS Fellow 2024-2026

[MSSRF @mssrf]

Our latest newsletter is out!

This edition brings together some exciting moments from across MSSRF: From @doctorsoumya's election as a Fellow of the @royalsociety, the graduation of our first MSS Fellows to our ongoing work on women farmers’ empowerment in Maharashtra.

In the news:
⚬ A third Science Simply podcast episode with Dr. Soumya Swaminathan is coming soon.
⚬ Community connections stayed strong through #WorldEnvironmentDay, stakeholder workshops, and beyond.
⚬ Our limited tribal recipe series with @TheLocavoreIn is now live.
⚬ A biodiversity guessing game tested our knowledge in a fun new way.

➡️Read more: https://t.co/Rx0RSBmRo9

➡️Subscribe to our mailing list: https://t.co/01eiiqIhHI

[MSSRF @mssrf]

Could a Biohappiness index be the way forward?

Watch @doctorsoumya, Chairperson, MSSRF, in conversation with @prempanicker and Arati Kumar-Rao: ‘What Are The Real Risks To Our Health?’ | From the Marginlands on YouTube: https://t.co/0qd52naHyE

#biohappiness #GDP

[MSSRF @mssrf]

"I graduated from the MSS fellowship today! It was an amazing experience working in the MSSRF Biotechnology lab with Dr @Gayatrivenkata2 and Dr Sivan on salt tolerance of rice. Working with them has made me more independent as a researcher and I am grateful for this opportunity!" - Gopika, MSS Fellow 2024 - 2025

[MSSRF @mssrf]

Antibiotics have long been our answer to common infections like UTIs, wounds, and throat infections, but they are getting more difficult to treat.

The bacteria in our bodies are evolving, resisting medication, and leaving our health in danger.

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan explains this growing public health challenge: the evolution of superbugs, anti-microbial resistance, and what we can realistically do about it.

New episode of Science Simply — coming soon.

[MSSRF @mssrf]

“I completed the M.S. Swaminathan Fellowship, and it was the most exciting work I have done! I worked with fishers in #Rameshwaram and developed #seaweed fryums and a seaweed podi powder mix. I am quite excited to take this work forward with MSSRF!” - Prakash S, MSS Fellow (2024–2026)

[MSSRF @mssrf]

Read more: https://t.co/vBcQKX4PS3

[MSSRF @mssrf]

"Graduated from my Fellowship and going to start my PhD soon! Thank you to MSSRF, @doctorsoumya , and Dr Gurmeet for guiding me through my project. I was able to develop a nutritionally dense and tasty addition to our meals from wild green leafy vegetables found in Wayanad. Grateful to the tribes there who documented and shared this traditional knowledge with us"
- Praise Alex, MSS Fellow 2024 - 2026

[MSSRF @mssrf]

We’re delighted to celebrate a major milestone — the graduation of the first batch of MSS Fellows! 🎓

Launched in 2024, the fellowship was inspired by Prof. M.S. Swaminathan’s vision of an equitable, technology-driven future. The programme has worked to bridge the gap between scientific innovation and real-world societal impact, empowering young leaders to drive meaningful change.

Congratulations to our Fellows on this remarkable achievement, and we wish them the very best in their future endeavours!

👉 Read more about their innovative projects here: https://t.co/puq8gonJ83
@doctorsoumya @Rengalakshmi10

[MSSRF @mssrf]

As agriculture becomes increasingly feminized, women farmers are carrying a heavier workload on their fields. This International Year of the Woman Farmer, we urge states to truly recognize their labour and resilience by strengthening their rights, access to schemes, and more.

▶️ Watch Dr. Soumya Swaminathan’s full lecture at Villars Institute Summit 2026: https://t.co/iRpwvIkNxb

#womanfarmer #IYWF #YearofTheWomanFarmer @FAO @doctorsoumya

[MSSRF @mssrf]

MSSRF’s long-term, ground-up work with #millets in Odisha offers a rare roadmap for responsible food system change — synchronising farmer preferences, intermediaries, and governance to scale nutrition and environmental benefits.

Read “Reinterpreting scaling as synchronising and sequencing” to see what features of scaling actually shift whole food system dimensions and how organisations can catalyse that process.

➡️doi: 10.1016/j.agsy.2026.104831

Authors: Costanza Conti, Prashant Parida, Andy Hall, Nitya Rao, girigan gopi, E.D.I. Oliver King, Soumya Swaminathan

@nityarao63 @doctorsoumya #foodsystems