Building climate resilience through agroecology in India

Prof Jagjit Plahe, 2026

Purpose

Professor Jagjit Plahe

Professor Jagjit Plahe.

Agriculture, forestry and land use account for nearly a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This global challenge has intensified calls for climate‑resilient agriculture and food systems that can support decarbonisation while safeguarding the livelihoods of millions of farmers. Professor Jagjit Plahe’s work responds directly to this need by advancing agroecology as a pathway for both mitigation and resilience.

Practice

Drawing on a decade of research on agroecology and climate resilience, Professor Plahe has published extensively in the field and secured Category 1 of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) funding for the project Building Climate‑Resilient Agri‑Food Futures: Reducing Emissions and Improving Food Security Through Agroecology. As principal chief investigator, she led the project’s design and implementation, coordinating a multidisciplinary team and a multi‑country fellowship program.

The DFAT program brought 14 Fellows from India, Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands and Uganda to Australia for intensive training on climate‑resilient agriculture. The fellowship combined online workshops, expert‑led sessions at Monash and UQ, and 13 days of field visits across regional Victoria and Queensland.

A two‑week extension program in India followed for India‑based fellows, involving fieldwork across two states. Through focus groups and interviews with farmers, community leaders and women‑led self‑help groups, the team examined emerging changes in sustainable agriculture practices and identified opportunities and barriers to wider adoption.

Output

The project delivered a comprehensive research and training program that included:

  • Agroecology workshops led by academic and industry experts
  • Field visits showcasing climate‑resilient farming practices in Victoria and Queensland
  • Applied fieldwork in India documenting farmer experiences, institutional challenges and community‑led innovations

Together, these activities created a structured learning pathway for fellows and generated new qualitative insights into sustainable agriculture transitions across four countries.

Outcome

Professor Plahe’s research has been adopted by the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA), an Indian NGO working with Indigenous communities, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and community‑based groups. CSA implemented several of the project’s recommended practices in collaboration with her, including:

  • Reviving soil and water systems through farmer training
  • Strengthening Farmer Producer Organisations to support climate‑resilient value chains
  • Organic certification pathways for farmers
  • Agroforestry adoption through targeted training programs

These changes directly support farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations in building long‑term resilience and improving environmental outcomes.

Impact

Professor Plahe received formal recognition from Monash Business School for societal impact in areas including:

  • Increased tree planting and land recovery
  • Revitalised soil and water systems
  • Strengthened market links and supply chains

Her work demonstrates how sustained research, capacity building and community partnerships can advance climate‑resilient agriculture and contribute to more secure, sustainable agri‑food futures.