Food Planet Prize 2026: Andhra Pradesh’s APCNF Wins for Natural Farming
Why in the news
Andhra Pradesh’s APCNF programme was named winner of the 2026 Food Planet Prize at a ceremony in Båstad, Sweden. It stood out among over 1,000 nominations from six continents.
Key facts
- Award: Food Planet Prize 2026, given in Båstad, Sweden.
- Founder of the prize: the Curt Bergfors Foundation of Sweden.
- Winner: APCNF, from Andhra Pradesh.
- Nominations: more than 1,000, from six continents.
- Reach: women’s SHGs numbering 3,40,000 plus 1.8 million farm households within the state.
Award and programme snapshot
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Grand prize | USD 1.5 million |
| Specialised international finalists | USD 150,000 each |
| APCNF started | 2016 |
| Implementing agency | Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS), a not-for-profit firm created by the state’s agriculture department |
About the Food Planet Prize
- Billed as the world’s largest environmental award devoted to reshaping global food systems.
- Backs early-stage, high-potential projects that can transform sustainable food value chains, instead of rewarding past legacy work.
- The foundation sends independent journalists and photographers for unannounced checks on the ground.
About APCNF
- Started by the Andhra Pradesh government in 2016 to move farmers away from chemical inputs.
- Rests on Jeevamrutham, Beejamrutham and Acchadana (mulching).
- Features: no chemical fertilisers or pesticides, cow-based bio-inputs, diverse cropping and year-round soil cover.
- Community-led and women-led through self-help groups, rather than a top-down government scheme.
- Long-term goal: all six million farming households of the state.
- Linked to wider frameworks: PKVY (Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana) and NMNF (National Mission on Natural Farming).
About natural farming
- Chemical-free method using local resources, cow-based inputs and traditional knowledge.
- Differs from organic farming by using even fewer external inputs and being rooted in community practice.
- Promoted globally as climate-smart, biodiversity-friendly and low-cost.
Exam angle
- Prize-giver and venue: Curt Bergfors Foundation; Båstad, Sweden.
- Implementing body: Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS); launch year 2016.
- Related terms: NMNF, PKVY, Jeevamrutham, Beejamrutham, Acchadana.