The Middle Path

This past week on the east coast I have had the pleasure of finding out some more information about the MS Swaminathan Foundation. MS Swaminathan* is popularly known as the father of the Indian Green Revolution, but in recent years he has increased his emphasis on the importance of sustainability taking precedence over growth. Talking to folks who work at the organization it feels like a bit of a relief to find an organization which seems to be willing to walk a middle path towards making practical progress in agriculture.

Swaminathan was trained in Mexico at CIMMYT as one of the original 'apostles' of the Green Revolution. He returned to India and helped implement changes in the young country which eventually led to the large increases in grain production - but also the disastrous poisoning of water by fertilizers, lowering of water tables, and destruction of native diets. While one of the principal proponents of change, Swaminathan felt like the work of NGOs and governments at the time weren't doing enough to help preserve the environment and to help work at the core problems of poverty. Back in 1988 he started a foundation using all the award money he had gotten for his work for the Green Revolution to fight against the wrongs of his brain child. The Green Revolution was a short jump towards progress - Swaminathan wanted an 'evergreen' revolution which could continue on.

So, not surprisingly the main tenets of the organization center around sustainability with the core areas being: environment, economy, and culture. The Foundation does research on biodiversity, biotechnology, eco-technology, food security, and infomatics. Sadly timing has worked out in such a way that it looks like I won't get to visit any of their test areas, but just talking to folks and hearing about the work they are doing gives me hope - this may be the longed for middle path. The organization does a little bit of everything because they think it's important to have someone willing to ask all the questions without a political agenda. While the Green Revolution was carried out almost entirely by non-profits hoping to improve agriculture for the people, the changes taking place right now - fertilizer, pesticides, and genetic engineering research - is being done almost exclusively by companies trying to make a buck. Swaminathan is able to combine elements of development work with farming to help use the market to support farmers rather than destroy them. Every question I asked to various persons working for or with the organization I was happy to get reasoned responses rather than righteous rhetoric. With work which hopes to not just curb environmental problems, but also help people I hope that this organization will be able to stick around.


* His first initials are M and S, his last name just happens to contain my first name.