Founder

Professor M. S. Swaminathan, a luminary in sustainable agriculture and food security, is celebrated as the architect of India’s Green Revolution. His peerless contributions were recognized in 2024 when he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, highlighting his lifelong mission to eliminate hunger and promote rural prosperity through science and technology.

TIME magazine listed him as one of the 20 most influential Asians of the 20th century, alongside Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore. Known as the "Father of Economic Ecology" by the United Nations Environment Programme, Professor Swaminathan’s leadership in the ever-green revolution introduced sustainable practices in agriculture, addressing food security without compromising environmental health.

His global recognition includes roles such as the Chairman of the UN Science Advisory Committee, Independent Chairman of the FAO Council (1981–85), and President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 1984–90). He led India’s agricultural transformation as Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and later as Director General of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), where his innovative strategies became a global template for agricultural advancement.

Professor Swaminathan’s advocacy for gender equity in agriculture earned him the inaugural International Award for Women and Development, and his focus on community-driven solutions continues to influence the work of the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF). His vision blends modern science with traditional knowledge, fostering inclusive growth for vulnerable populations, focused on smallholder farmers, fishers, tribals with a pro-poor, pro-women and pro-nature approach.

A recipient of all three tiers of the Padma Awards—Padma Shri (1967), Padma Bhushan (1972), and Padma Vibhushan (1989)—Professor Swaminathan was also the first World Food Prize laureate (1987). His additional honours include the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Albert Einstein World Science Award, and the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development.

A prolific scholar, he authored numerous scientific papers and books while mentoring generations of researchers. Professor Swaminathan was a Fellow of prestigious academies, including the Royal Society of London and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and held honorary doctorates from 84 universities worldwide.

For more on his extraordinary life and impact:

• Scientist, Hunger Fighter, Food Prize Laureate
• Living Legends in Indian Science
• Zero Hunger is Possible