Raghavan Sampathkumar

Key questions:

* Has the country done justice to sustain and progress from the gains of Green Revolution?
* Has the cereal-centric approach led to "Calorie catastrophe"?
* Nutritional security and "Demographic dividend or disaster"?
* How Policy hi-jacking and "Policy Placebos" impact the agri-food sector?

Agriculture still remains and will always remain dependent on two kinds of ‘CLOUDS’. One for ‘RAIN’ and another for ‘DATA’.

In fact, the latter is the key for agriculture to improve its resilience, enhance its capability to manage and get itself insulated from the vagaries of the former. Globally, farming has started moving on the information superhighway and it’s no longer a ‘sow seeds and reap produce’ story but ‘plant sensors and harvest data’ through the use of geospatial… Show more

Agriculture still remains and will always remain dependent on two kinds of ‘CLOUDS’. One for ‘RAIN’ and another for ‘DATA’.

In fact, the latter is the key for agriculture to improve its resilience, enhance its capability to manage and get itself insulated from the vagaries of the former. Globally, farming has started moving on the information superhighway and it’s no longer a ‘sow seeds and reap produce’ story but ‘plant sensors and harvest data’ through the use of geospatial technologies. If farm machines have revolutionized farming in the previous generation, it is going to be data that will bring the next big revolution in agriculture in future.

Food security remains a hot topic of discussion throughout the world even though food prices have declined from their peak in 2008. However, the basic pillars of food security remain sacrosanct and need greater attention. Further, the pressure to feed a growing population of over 9 billion by 2050 is mounting in such a daunting way that food production needs to rise by at least 60 percent from the current levels along with other factors that are needed to ensure nothing stands between the people, every single person and their fair share of safe and nutritious food in the world.
Asia is one of the fast growing regions that is set to power world economic growth in the next decade and further. Yet it remains highly vulnerable in the context of food insecurity. Although overall dependence on agriculture has reduced over time, the sector still remains the mainstay for employment and livelihood for over half of its population. In the matured economies, the primary driver has been the use of technologies for example, farm mechanization to transform traditional agriculture into agribusiness that is more efficient and sustainable. Show less

From NIKKEI to NASDAQ, everyone is well aware of the importance of ‘AAA’ in financial
lingo but it is also important to know about ‘AAA’s of food to understand the severity of food
insecurity.

I conceive food security as a tripod of three important components but not necessarily in any
particular order because all of these are equally important.
 Availability
 Accessibility
 Affordability

This brief talks about the much needed relook at the nutritive and economic values of pulses as important ingredients in the processed foods sector worldwide.

The Indian government allowed 51% FDI in multi-brand retail. The industry and the stock markets in general rose in euphoria. However, this brief presents what are the challenges in store.

The brief calls for the attention of the CEA towards the burning issues in the agriculture sector in India.

This brief discusses the impact of the worst drought in 50 years across the food, feed and fuel markets and trade globally.

Shared my views on the sweeping drought in US and its possible impacts in Indian food system.

This brief explores the reasons behind young generation in India shunning agriculture as their career choice.

Special issue focusing on the food crisis and high food prices

Across the world, food prices after falling in real terms for many years, have shown an increasing
trend in the recent past. For developing countries, the implications can be particularly
devastating especially for the vulnerable sections forcing the poor to reduce food consumption
and nutrition and pushing the near poor back into poverty. For low income, food importing
countries, the heavy increase in cost of imported food can have implications on reserves of
foreign exchange in… Show more

Across the world, food prices after falling in real terms for many years, have shown an increasing
trend in the recent past. For developing countries, the implications can be particularly
devastating especially for the vulnerable sections forcing the poor to reduce food consumption
and nutrition and pushing the near poor back into poverty. For low income, food importing
countries, the heavy increase in cost of imported food can have implications on reserves of
foreign exchange in the country. At the national level, across countries, coping with rising
inflation as well as the consequent social unrest are also phenomena that have been observed. All
this can put a halt on growth and development of a country. Show less

Discusses the causes and consequences of high food prices and the possible policy options

Foreword for the Annual issue. Deals with the AAAs - Availability, Accessibility and Affordability of FOOD

Discusses the intricate relationship between the FOOD & FUEL particularly in the context of using commodities and grains as feedstock and the impacts on the global food system.

Explores the intriguing connection between the commodity prices and rise of biofuels

This brief discusses about food security and the importance of regulations that are based on evidence and data through unbiased scientific research.

Implications of Horsemeat scandal - How can food chains in Asia become scandal-proof (To be published Food Chain Journal)

This article discusses about the critical role the commercial seed industry in India is playing to meet the current challenges of Indian agriculture sector.

Yet to be published.

This piece discusses about today's flat organizational structure and dynamic corporate world, age old hierarchical practices in organizations.