On May 29, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayong), the premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the Government of India, organized a convention with international experts with the aim of promoting agroecological agriculture in India. The experts united on the importance of producing food free of fertilizers, agrochemicals and pesticides, while ensuring food security and nutritional requirements for the people in India.

Speaking to an audience of senior international and national experts and policymakers, Minister of Agriculture Shri Narendra Singh Tomar stated, “Natural farming is our indigenous system based on cow dung and urine, biomass, mulch and soil aeration [. . .]. In the next five years, we intend to reach 200 000 hectares in any form of organic farming, including natural farming.”

International experts from the US, UK, Netherlands, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), Australia, Germany, and of United Nations acknowledged India’s pioneering leadership in the arena of agroecology—the science of applying ecology to agriculture for sustainable outcomes that are more resilient to climate shocks such as droughts or flooding and pest attacks, but are still productive and support farmer’s livelihoods—and especially natural farming as a form of agroecology. Natural farming avoids use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, while focusing on reviving the beneficial soil organisms that contribute to fertility and good nutrition of the plants. Experts explained that well-nourished plants lead to well-nourished human beings.