Tata-Cornell Institute project promotes diverse food value chains

TCI researchers will map and analyse the value chains for key non-staple food groups, with particular focus on millets, tomatoes, pulses and soyabeans
| Photo Credit:
NAGARA GOPAL

A new project titled ‘Promoting value chains for climate resilience and nutritious diets’ at the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition (TCI) aims to bolster Indian food value chains in support of the diversification of the country’s food system.

TCI researchers say that diversification is key to overcoming India’s high malnutrition rates and making its food system resilient in the face of climate change, but value chains for non-staple crops need strengthening.

Numerous opportunities

Food value chains encompass the full range of activities and processes that bring food from the farm to the consumer plate. Value is added and maintained at every step, including production, processing, distribution, marketing and consumption.

Quoting the TCI Director, Prabhu Pingali, a media statement said: “As food moves from farm to fork, there are numerous opportunities to increase efficiency, reduce waste and generate economic opportunities for India’s smallholder farmers. This exciting new project will identify those opportunities and provide policymakers with information to build and bolster value chains for nutritious, climate-smart crops.”

As part of the ‘Promoting value chains for climate resilience and nutritious diets’ project, TCI researchers will map and analyse the value chains for key non-staple food groups — coarse grains, horticultural produce, pulses and oilseeds. In particular, they will focus on millets, tomatoes, pulses and soyabeans. Through their analysis, they will identify challenges and inefficiencies along the value chains and recommend options for addressing them.

5 million Danish kroner grant

Researchers will also consult with key stakeholders in the relevant value chains, including policymakers, scientists and civil society organisations. These consultations will reveal key areas of focus and confirm the validity of proposed interventions.

The project is supported by a 5 million Danish kroner grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Jakob Ørberg, a senior scientific lead at the Novo Nordisk Foundation, said the Novo Nordisk Foundation is looking to India to partner on the sustainable food system agenda with a specific focus on climate and nutrition. “TCI’s repository of work on agriculture value chains and the work supported under this project is an important and actionable knowledge base for this agenda,” he said.

Pingali said that properly established value chains help connect farmers with markets, allow for price discovery, provide critical infrastructure and ensure economic incentives. Developing strong, efficient value chains for diverse crops is an integral step in building a climate-friendly food system and making nutritious foods more accessible, available and affordable, he said.

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Published on May 14, 2025