The deterioration of soil health is happening at an alarming rate, indicating the loss of nutrient content and quality in our food products, says Dr. Palanivel Rajan, Madurai Institute of Sports Science & PVR Organic Agriculture Farm. Delivering a special address at a Special Youth Awareness Lecture on “Eco Alliance for Healthy Diet and Nutrition,” jointly organized by Thiagarajar College Madurai and CREATE NGO, he called upon the student community to engage in participatory action research in organic farms and organizations like CREATE, who are working directly with farmers. Such collaborative research and documentation will not only encourage farmers to shift to organic farming but also help consumers choose organic food products.

While delivering the keynote address, Dr. G. Sither, a practicing Naturopathy Doctor and Organic Farmer from Thanjavur, pointed out that stereotypical food habits are the root cause of health and nutritional issues, especially micronutrient deficiencies among children, youth, and women. He elaborated on the rich agrobiodiversity in the State and the community’s knowledge and wisdom regarding its multiple uses in a variety of food recipes for health and medicine. He highlighted the importance of bringing more dietary diversity to our plates in the form of fruits, vegetables, cereals, uncultivated edible weeds, seasonal wild berries, and local and seasonal foods.

This knowledge transfer, he emphasized, needs to take place across generations—from elders to youngsters—and between consumers and producers, with more collaborative research between academic institutions and NGOs working on the ground with farmers. Health and nutrition, he added, can be achieved through a combination of several factors: the choice and consumption of good food, changes in lifestyle, growing our own food through kitchen gardens, engaging in physical activities and exercises, getting adequate exposure to sunlight, and ensuring sufficient rest for the human body to regenerate its cells and maintain hormonal balance.

Presiding over the special lecture, Prof. Dr. P. Duraisingam explained the objective of the conference and highlighted the collaborative programs between CREATE and Thiagarajar College, especially with the Department of Botany. He called upon students to take an oath and make a commitment to discourage the consumption of fast food items.