The Hyderabad-based nonprofit, Naandi Foundation, recently received a notable distinction from The Rockefeller Foundation. Selected as one of the top 10 ‘Visionaries’ across the globe, the recognition comes for their innovative Arakunomics model and positively impacts on the Food System Vision 2050 Prize.
Details About The Food System Vision Prize
In 2019, The Rockefeller Foundation, in collaboration with SecondMuse and OpenIDEO, initiated the Food System Vision Prize. The competition, which annually awards a total of 2 million USD to its winners, invites organisations worldwide to formulate visions for a regenerative and nourishing food system by the year 2050. These visions should address six essential themes: Environment, Diets, Economics, Culture, Technology, and Policy. The idea behind this initiative is that transformative changes in food systems can help tackle various global issues, including climate change, pollution, and an imminent population surge.
About The Naandi Foundation and Their Arakunomics Model
The Naandi Foundation’s recognition comes from their ingenious application of the Arakunomics model in areas such as Araku, Andhra Pradesh, Wardha, Maharashtra, and New Delhi. This model, developed over two decades of work with tribal farmers in Araku, is a comprehensive economic plan that guarantees farmers’ profits and assures consumers of quality through regenerative agriculture.
Arakunomics focuses on an “ABCDEFGH” framework revolving around Agriculture, Biology, Compost, Decentralised decision-making, Entrepreneurs, Families, Global Markets, and ‘Headstands’, indicating innovation. Notably, it is a tribute to the tribal farmers of the Araku region who have launched world-class coffee in Paris in 2017 and transformed a high-carbon landscape across more than 955 villages by planting over 25 million trees.
Following the success of Arakunomics in Araku, the Naandi Foundation has replicated this model in distressed farming communities in Wardha and New Delhi. Their future plans include expanding their ‘food-print’ by transforming agricultural practices across one million acres spread across India.
Financing For Naandi’s Vision
The Rockefeller Foundation plans to support Naandi’s ongoing efforts with financial assistance. Presently, it plans to give USD 1,50,000, followed by an additional USD 50,000 after a three-month accelerator programme specifically designed to help Naandi realise its vision.
The Concept Of Regenerative Agriculture
Regenerative Agriculture describes farming practices that can reverse climate change by rejuvenating soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity. These practices result in carbon drawdown and the enhancement of the water cycle. The unique aspect of regenerative agriculture is its capacity to improve the land using techniques that revitalise the soil and the environment.
This dynamic and holistic approach involves permaculture and organic farming practices like conservation tillage, cover crops, crop rotation, composting, mobile animal shelters, and pasture cropping. It aims to enhance food production, increase farmers’ income and most importantly, build topsoil. These methods are promoted as solutions to counter the loss of fertile soil, biodiversity loss, along with the disappearance of indigenous seeds and knowledge.