The Politics and Ecology of Food in India: History, Geography, Technology, Community

Speaker
Sudha Nagavarapu and Dwijendra Nath Guru
Date and Time:
-
Location:

R-380 Seminar Room, Learning & Environmental Sciences Bldg 1954 Buford Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55108

About the Speaker

Sudha Nagavarapu supports grassroots organizations (mainly Dalit) in India through the design and implementation of interventions, as well as with documentation and fundraising. She also supports campaigns for their rights, and has co-organized and participated in activities to resist injustice, discriminatory policies and hate-driven violence as a member of various networks. She has coordinated community-driven, collaborative research into maternal health, health systems, neglected diseases, food cultures and agrarian histories. She currently works with Sangtin Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan (SKMS), Uttar Pradesh and a few groups in Karnataka, and coordinates research into food and farming transitions with academics in Delhi and Bangalore.

Dwijendra Nath Guru advocates for and promotes efforts to move towards a food system that is both ecologically and socio-politically sustainable. Drawing on cross sectoral experience, he helps communities identify and develop solutions to people, process, machine and product challenges in real world situations. Over the past decade he has been involved in developing, refining and implementing agricultural information systems solutions in a for profit company based out of Bengaluru. Taking a systems/platform approach, they have developed solutions that each stakeholder can use to reduce their risks, strengthening the agri supply chain. Dwiji has modified and customized existing machines and developed process flows for small millet processing that meets the needs of the producer community, improves nutrition retention, and reduces pest infestations. Along with CBOs, social enterprises, and nonprofits across India, he has worked on documenting, developing tutorials and training people on small millet processing and quality assessment.