Leading industry associations, research institutions, government bodies and civil society organisations have come together to establish a National Alliance for Regenerative Vegetable Oil Sector (NARVOS).
At the event held in Bhopal on August 23, the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) announced its commitment, along with 700 member companies, to buy back regenerative products.
Anchored by Solidaridad, the platform will drive the large-scale transition towards regenerative agriculture, an approach that restores soil health, enhances productivity and strengthens farmers’ resilience to climate change. This initiative is being taken under the EU–India partnership on regenerative agriculture, which seeks to promote climate-resilient food systems, sustainable value chains and farmer-centric innovations.
The alliance brings together bodies such as SEA, SOPA, AWL Agri Business and the Indian Institute of Soil Science (IISS), marking a step towards reducing India’s edible oil import dependency, improving farmer livelihoods and positioning the country as a global leader in sustainable vegetable oils.
Need for nature-positive solutions
Declining soil fertility and unsustainable farming practices threaten the long-term viability of oilseed production across 27 million hectares in the country.
A media statement said that with over 55 per cent of India’s land already degraded (ICAR estimate), the need for nature-positive solutions has never been more urgent.
Practices such as low-till farming, cover cropping, intercropping and compost use have demonstrated the potential to increase yields by 20-40 per cent while cutting fertiliser and pesticide costs by up to 50 per cent.
For oilseeds such as soyabean, mustard, groundnut, sunflower and oil palm this transition could be transformative, it said.
Quoting Angshu Mallick, Vice President of SEA, the statement said: “On one hand, we are the world’s largest importer, spending over ₹1.5 lakh crore annually on imports, which makes our food security vulnerable to global market shocks. On the other, our farmers face declining productivity and soil health challenges. Regenerative agriculture offers us a win-win pathway. It has the power to restore soil fertility, cut input costs and raise yields, while also meeting the rising consumer and regulatory demand for sustainable products. By working together through this alliance, we can unlock India’s potential to become not only self-reliant but also a global leader in sustainable vegetable oils.”
A critical concern
Atul Chaturvedi, Special Advisor, SEA, said the need of the hour is to think of ways to make farming sustainable for a long time and keep the soil fertile. “That is why we all have come together for regenerative farming. It is our endeavour that in the coming time every organisation and company related to agriculture should join this,” he said.
Manoranjan Mohanty, Director, IISS, said soil health has become one of the most critical concerns in agriculture today. The growing issue of soil health depletion poses a serious challenge. Therefore, regenerative agriculture practices that focus on improving and sustaining soil health are vital for building a resilient future for agriculture.
Suresh Motwani, Programme Coordinator at Solidaridad, said regenerative agriculture is not just a practice, it is a philosophy of farming that works with nature rather than against it. “Through this alliance, we are bringing together industry, research, government and civil society to co-create solutions that restore soil health, conserve water and increase biodiversity, while also improving farmers’ incomes and resilience,” he said.
Low productivity woes
BV Mehta, Executive Director of SEA, said the Indian vegetable oil sector is one of the most critical pillars of India’s food economy, yet it continues to face a wide demand-supply gap. While India grows a diverse range of oilseeds across millions of hectares, the productivity remains far below global standards.
“To bridge this gap, we need innovation, collaboration and a shift towards sustainable models. Regenerative agriculture provides that pathway. To reinforce this, SEA, along with its 800 member companies, has committed to the buyback of regenerative products, ensuring strong market support for farmers adopting these practices,” he said.
Vijaya Data, Chairman, SEA-Rape Mustard Promotion Council, said mustard is India’s leading oilseed crop, cultivated by millions of smallholder farmers across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. “Yet our average yields are less than half of the global benchmark. Regenerative agriculture offers us a way to change this equation. By restoring soil health, improving water efficiency and diversifying cropping systems, we can raise productivity while lowering costs for farmers. SEA is proud to stand with other stakeholders in building a more resilient and sustainable vegetable oil sector for the country,” he said.
Published on August 25, 2025