In a world increasingly focused on sustainable solutions, the Native Foodscape Foundation is proud to champion the next generation of food system leaders through our flagship initiative, the Nourishing Heritage Webinar Series. Launched on World Food Day 2025, this youth-led dialogue series was created to build momentum around the revival of India's traditional food systems. Our core mission is to spotlight the young changemakers who are actively working to bring Neglected and Underutilised Food Crops (NUFCs) back to our farms and plates.
We are excited to share that the response to the series has been outstanding. To date, we have successfully hosted two engaging sessions that brought together a diverse group of young practitioners, students, and researchers. These conversations have explored the vital links between food heritage, agrobiodiversity, and the innovative approaches needed to create lasting impact.
This webinar series mission is to :
Amplify Voices : Featuring young leaders from across India who are driving the revival of indigenous crops.
Share Lived Experiences : Providing a platform for changemakers to reflect on their journeys, challenges, and successes.
Chart Pathways : Collaboratively identifying actionable steps to ensure youth-driven impact in the NUFC space is sustainable and scalable.
Whether you are a student exploring the future of food, a researcher delving into agrobiodiversity, a practitioner working on the ground, or simply someone passionate about where our food comes from, we invite you to be part of this important dialogue.
Together, we can shape a more sustainable, resilient, and nourishing future rooted in India's rich agricultural heritage.
We are always looking to connect with passionate individuals. If you would like to know more about future webinars or are interested in speaking at an upcoming session, please get in touch with us.
Mukta Patil from The Locavore explained how their work reconnects people with food by documenting culinary traditions & real-life experiences. Through their Millet Revival Project, they promote millet's cultural & nutritional value using stories, events, & recipes, embodying their mission of "Doing Good Through Food."
Palak Arorafrom Millium by Sat Guru Super foodsde scribed her efforts to make millets appealing by focusing on nutrition, innovative processing, and unique sprouted millet-lentil products. Starting as a lockdown experiment, the brand has become an award-winning gluten-free producer advocating nationally for millet awareness.
Mahesh Londhe from Millets Now discussed millets' historical relevance, decline, and resurgence as "Smart Foods" beneficial for health, the environment, and farmers. He stressed innovations in processing, value chain development, and consumer education.
Young Chef Aditya Rajesh Nair brought a refreshing and creative perspective by presenting a pearl millet (bajra) ice creamrecipe. This unique culinary innovation beautifully demonstrated how traditional, climate-resilient grains like millets can be reimagined in contemporary formats—making them both nutritious and exciting for modern diets.
Young changemaker Rishabh Lohia shared his work with the Wild Harvest India, highlighting efforts toward the revival of hashtag# Mahua flowers by exploring their food uses to ensure food and nutritional security. His work not only brings Mahua to plates and palates but also challenges long-held prejudices associated with these "magical flowers."
This session featured two dynamic young changemakers, Pooja Lakhotia and Hency Batheja. As advocates for bringing millets into the mainstream, they offered practical insights on how to incorporate this healthy, age-old traditional crop into modern cuisine—making it more palatable and popular.
Dr.Charvi Kapoor, Research Fellow, Native Foodscape Foundation
Shweta Sharma, DoctoralResearcher, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU); World Food Forum (WFF) Youth Representative 2025]
Prof.USHA MINA, Professor, School of Environmental Sciences (SES), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi
Dr.Chubbamenla Jamir, PhD, Director, Native Foodscape Foundation, New Delhi
Rethinking Food Systems for a Zero-Waste Approachwebinar presents a critical discussion on tackling food waste within our food systems. This webinar brings together four distinguished women experts to explore key intersections, including policy frameworks, consumer behaviour, nutrient loss, and carbon footprints.
Together, we will uncover practical solutions to build a more sustainable and efficient future
