Crop diversification to improve the soil microbiome is key to the approach of the Andhra Pradesh Community-Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) movement. After soil to bread in Portugal, the Seeds4All proj...

Bringing together researchers, policymakers, and food systems experts, the session will explore the latest evidence and policy insights on accelerating the transition towards more resilient and…

Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) recently received the 2026 Food Planet Prize for their role in leading one of the world’s largest agroecology projects. The award will help the organization scale sustainable practices to the 6 million farmers in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and beyond. The Food Planet Prize, the world’s largest environmental award of US$1.5 million, recognizes successful projects working at the intersection of food and agriculture systems and climate. This year, the committee recognized APCNF for demonstrating “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,” says Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, Co-Chair of the Food Planet Prize jury. APCNF—led by the nonprofit Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS), which translates to the Farmer Empowerment Organisation—began with 40,000 smallholder farmers in 2016. Over the last decade, it has grown to reach 1.8 million producers. Under the program, farmers learn how to use locally available biological resources, diversify crops, and introduce natural soil-enrichment techniques. Those who become experts in these practices, known as master farmers, take on the role of teachers in their communities. Each is responsible for offering training and...

Crop diversification to improve the soil microbiome is key to the approach of the Andhra Pradesh Community-Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) movement.

For years, environmental awards, we heard, largely went to scientists, startups and conservation projects. This year, however, one of the world's biggest sustainability honours went to an army of small farmers from Andhra Pradesh. The Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme, which now works with around 18 lakh farmers of the state, won the 2026 Food Planet Prize, often described as the world's largest environmental award focused on transforming food systems. The $1.5 million prize was presented to APCNF by the Curt Bergfors Foundation in Bastad, Sweden, on June 2. The moment of glory comes at a time when farming and food security are increasingly threatened by climate-driven weather anomalies. Droughts, floods, rising input costs, and dependence on chemical fertilisers, many of which are cancerous and banned in dozens of countries, have been the norm. Against this backdrop, Andhra Pradesh's 18 lakh farmers demonstrated that natural farming can make agriculture more resilient while reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers. According to APCNF, the approach is already being replicated in 22 Indian states as well as Sri Lanka and Zambia. The award aligns with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's ambition of making Andhra Pradesh a "100% natural farming...

Amaravati, February 10, 2026: Two women farmers from Andhra Pradesh's Community-Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) initiative are set to join a prestigious European study tour. Arika Narasamma, a farmer-scientist from Durubili village in Parvathipuram-Manyam district, and Lalam Jyothi, a community mentor from Santhapalem village in Anakapalle district, will travel with APCNF leaders to Germany, Switzerland, Poland, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Hosted by the 2000m² Global Field Initiative and leading agroecology groups, the tour includes attending Biofach, the world's top organic trade fair in Germany, academic talks at universities like Wageningen and Weihenstephan, and meetings with the European Commission in Brussels.

YouTube video by Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming

The APCNF shares this year’s one million euro prize money with two others-renowned soil scientist Rattan Lal and Egypt-based SEKEM.

Crop diversification to improve the soil microbiome is key to the approach of the Andhra Pradesh Community-Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) movement.

Andhra Pradesh’s community-led natural farming programme has won the 2026 Food Planet Prize, one of the world’s largest environmental awards focused on transforming food systems. The prize worth $1.5 million, was presented in Båstad, Sweden, on June 2, 2026. The Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming programme (APCNF), was recognised by the Curt Bergfors Foundation in Sweden for its work in promoting farming practices that reduce dependence on synthetic inputs and support climate-resilient agriculture. The prize received more than 1,000 nominations from around the world. APCNF was among four finalists selected from a longlist of 35 initiatives across 19 countries and six continents, according to a press note by APCNF. Launched in 2016 by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, under Andhra Pradesh’s agriculture department, the programme was designed to help farmers shift to natural farming. It has since grown into what officials describe as one of the world’s largest community-led agroecology movements. The programme now works with about 1.8 million farming families and 340,000 women’s self-help groups across Andhra Pradesh. Officials said more than 10,000 community resource persons support farmer-to-farmer learning, while farmer scientists and mentors help document and strengthen natural farming practices. The award citation recognised APCNF’s work in showing that...

KADAPA: In Vellatur village, P Haripriya has transformed her life from the burden of debt and frequent crop failures to becoming a beacon of hope for others by adopting Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF). Her adoption of sustainable...

Natural Farming is all about farming in harmony with nature. Explore sustainable farming methods that harmonize with nature, benefiting both people and the planet. Discover transformative solutions fo...