The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation’s (MSSRF) annual conference for 2017, based on the theme of ‘Farming System for Nutrition’ is to be held from August 7 – 9, 2017 at MSSRF in Chennai, India. The Regional Consultation aims to bring stakeholders from agriculture, nutrition, health and related domains to examine evidences on this theme from across the globe and within India. Agro-biodiversity, climate change, technology and the elements to bridge the gaps – gender, social inclusion and nutrition literacy will be explored. Farm men and women will share experiences in bringing a nutrition focus to farming. The outcome of the consultation will serve as a valuable advocacy tool at different forums to mainstream nutrition in agriculture policy and strategy.  This will be presented to policy makers at the national and regional levels to bring a nutrition sensitive focus in agriculture policy and strategy.

The three-day consultation will include the following technical sessions.

• Pathways of Farming System for Nutrition (Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture)
• Agro biodiversity/Climate Change and Farming System for Nutrition
• Nutritionists’ Perspective on Farming System for Nutrition
• Role of Technology in Farming System for Nutrition
• Bridging the Gaps
• Farmers’ Experiences with Farming System for Nutrition
• Policy Support required for Farming System for Nutrition

Dr Anthony Whitbread and Joanna Kane-Potaka of International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) will present at the conference. The focus of Dr Whitbread’s presentations will be on managing food and nutritional security of smallholder farming systems under the climatically variable semi-arid tropics, while Ms Kane-Potaka will present on a consumer-driven approach to nutrition. She will draw on experiences from the smart food initiative to outline how a consumer-driven approach needs to be combined with a value chain approach, linking back to the production on farm, for a sustainable, longer-term solution to nutrition and health.