Andhra Pradesh Community managed Natural Farming (APCNF) - Re-thinking food systems

The Natural Farming scenario presented in AgroEco2050 is grounded in practicality, as it does not rely on untested, hypothetical technological leaps. Instead, it prioritizes strategies that offer clear benefits and are built on the application of existing knowledge and best practices that are currently within our reach.

AgroEco2050 views quantitative models as an inclusive and participatory endeavor. Most modelling exercises function as having a magic 'black box' where a small group of academics choose scenario variables, parameters and functions to optimize through complex mathematics. Instead, the quantitative model “Agribiom” is seen as a 'learning machine' for a diverse set of stakeholders, to take stock of past macroeconomic structural transformations, and to debate options for the future, using an interactive interface powered by millions of datapoints to test and refine the robustness of the scenario.

This approach allowed for a creative collaboration among a diverse group of stakeholders, from India and abroad, (scientists, farmers, government, civil society and private sector) through multiple workshops from 2019 to 2023, bringing their unique knowledge and visions to the table, enabling an exercise in participative democracy.