Indian Entities Clinch 2024 Gulbenkian Prize for Sustainable Agriculture

Two Indian entities, APCNF and Dr. Rattan Lal, have been awarded the prestigious 2024 Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity for their groundbreaking work in sustainable agriculture. Their efforts are recognized for empowering small farmers, improving soil health, and contributing to food security amidst climate change challenges.

In a significant recognition of sustainable agriculture, two Indian entities have been awarded the prestigious 2024 Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity. The Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) and renowned soil scientist Dr. Rattan Lal will share the 1 million euro prize with an Egyptian organization, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation announced on Friday.

APCNF, managed by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS), is the world's largest agro-ecology programme, positively impacting over a million smallholder farmers across 500,000 hectares in Andhra Pradesh. 'The APCNF programme empowers small farmers by enabling them to switch to natural farming methods, benefitting both farmers and soil,' said Vijay Kumar Thallam, Executive Vice Chairman of RySS.

Dr. Rattan Lal has been honored for his soil-centric approach to agriculture, emphasizing the crucial role of soil health and sustainable farming in addressing food security and combating climate change. The winners were chosen from 181 nominations by a jury chaired by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The award highlights India's significant role in implementing sustainable agricultural practices and showcases the potential for such methods to address global climate and food security challenges. The prize aims to inspire similar innovative approaches worldwide.