Amaravati/Stockholm: Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF), one of the world’s largest farmer-led agroecology initiatives, has been awarded the prestigious Food Planet Prize 2026, widely regarded as the world’s largest environmental award. The recognition places Andhra Pradesh‘s natural farming movement on the global stage and highlights India’s growing role in promoting sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture.
The award, carrying a prize money of USD 1.5 million, was presented at a ceremony in Båstad, Sweden, on June 2, 2026. APCNF was selected for leading one of the most ambitious transitions from chemical-intensive agriculture to nature-based farming practices anywhere in the world.
The Food Planet Prize jury praised APCNF for demonstrating how large-scale, community-driven natural farming can improve livelihoods, strengthen climate resilience, reduce dependence on synthetic agricultural inputs, and restore ecological balance.
Recognition for One of the World’s Largest Agroecology Transitions
Over the past decade, APCNF has facilitated the transition of approximately 1.8 million farmers across Andhra Pradesh towards natural farming methods. What began as a state-supported initiative has evolved into one of the largest agroecological movements globally.
Launched by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the programme works through an extensive grassroots network of women’s self-help groups, community institutions and more than 10,000 trained farmer facilitators who support smallholder farmers in adopting sustainable agricultural practices.
The initiative promotes farming methods rooted in both scientific principles and traditional agricultural knowledge. Key practices include year-round cover cropping, reduced dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, biodiversity enhancement, and pre-monsoon dry sowing techniques that help improve soil health and conserve water.
Today, these practices are being implemented across more than 8,000 villages in the state.
What is the Food Planet Prize?
The Food Planet Prize is an international award that recognizes transformative initiatives capable of helping create sustainable food systems while addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and food security challenges.
Apart from APCNF, this year’s finalists included:
- Conscious Kitchen (United States)
- NoPalm Ingredients (Netherlands)
- Savanna Institute (United States)
Each finalist received USD 150,000 in recognition of their contributions toward sustainable food systems.
However, APCNF emerged as the overall winner because of its scale, measurable impact and potential for replication in other regions around the world.
Jury Praises APCNF’s Scalable Nature-Positive Farming Model
Announcing the award, Professor Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, Co-Chair of the Food Planet Prize Jury, said APCNF provides a practical roadmap for transforming agriculture while simultaneously improving farmer incomes and environmental outcomes.
“APCNF demonstrates how nature-positive farming can be implemented across entire communities and regions, providing a scalable pathway for millions of farmers while simultaneously improving livelihoods, resilience, and environmental outcomes.”
She noted that the initiative has significantly reduced farmers’ dependence on synthetic agricultural inputs while helping them become more resilient to climate shocks, droughts and economic uncertainty.
“Essentially, APCNF shows how the future of agriculture can be built by working with nature rather than against it,” she added.
How APCNF Plans to Use the Prize Money
The USD 1.5 million award is expected to accelerate APCNF’s efforts to expand natural farming practices within India and globally.
According to the organisation, the funds will be utilised for:
Expanding Demonstration Farms
New demonstration sites will be established to allow farmers, researchers, policymakers and visitors from India and abroad to observe community-managed natural farming practices on the ground.
Developing Country-Specific Toolkits
APCNF plans to create implementation toolkits tailored to different geographical and agricultural contexts, enabling other countries and regions to replicate the model effectively.
Strengthening Scientific Research
The initiative intends to forge new research partnerships to build a stronger evidence base around the impacts of natural farming on productivity, biodiversity, soil health and climate resilience.
Launching a Natural Farming Leadership Programme
A dedicated leadership course will be developed to train future champions of natural farming and agroecological transformation.
Supporting Farmer Scientists
A unique feature of APCNF is its emphasis on empowering farmers as innovators and researchers. The prize money will support more “farmer scientists” who conduct field experiments, document outcomes and contribute to agricultural knowledge generation.
Vijay Kumar Thallam Dedicates Award to Farmers and Women’s Groups
Accepting the award on behalf of APCNF, retired IAS officer of 1983 batch from AP cadre and Executive Vice Chairman Vijay Kumar Thallam expressed gratitude to farmers, farm workers, scientists and community institutions that have driven the movement.
“APCNF is honored to receive the 2026 Food Planet Prize on behalf of 1.8 million farm families, 700,000 farmworker families, and the 340,000 women’s self-help groups driving this transformation,” he said.
He described the recognition as an acknowledgment of the efforts of millions of farmers across India who are demonstrating a climate-resilient and nature-positive path for agriculture.
“We accept this award for farmers across India who are showing the world a climate-resilient, nature-positive pathway, and we thank the scientists who have supported this journey,” he said.
Tribute to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s Vision
Vijay Kumar also credited Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for providing the vision and institutional support that enabled the natural farming movement to expand at scale.
“A special thanks to Honorable Chief Minister Sri Nara Chandrababu Naidu whose vision made it possible,” he said.
He added that the international recognition would further strengthen APCNF’s resolve to expand natural farming practices to all six million farmers of Andhra Pradesh in the coming years.
A Global Endorsement of India’s Sustainable Agriculture Efforts
The award comes at a time when governments worldwide are searching for farming models that can simultaneously improve food security, protect natural resources and address climate change.
APCNF’s success demonstrates that large-scale agricultural transformation is possible through community participation, farmer-led innovation and sustainable practices that reduce reliance on external chemical inputs.
The recognition is expected to enhance Andhra Pradesh’s standing as a global leader in natural farming while encouraging broader adoption of agroecological practices across India and beyond.
With 1.8 million farmers already participating and ambitions to reach six million more, APCNF’s journey is increasingly being viewed as one of the most significant experiments in sustainable agriculture anywhere in the world.
Read also: No Pension Without Vigilance Clearance: MHA Issues Fresh Directive for AGMUT IAS and IPS Officers
