SDG 2.1Research for zero hunger
UPES researchers work on fortified staple foods, household food security, turning food waste into value, crops for small farmers and the nutritional wealth of the Himalaya.
The figures below cover UPES research publications on food, nutrition and sustainable agriculture from 2021 to 2025 (source: Scopus, October 2026).
184zero hunger research publications, 2021–2025
9,505citations to these papers
99journal articles and reviews
30%open access
What the research covers
Number of 2021–2025 papers on each theme (a paper can appear under more than one).
| Theme | Papers |
|---|
| Sustainable agriculture and crop production | 116 |
| Soil health, fertilisers and plant protection | 59 |
| Precision and smart farming (AI, IoT, drones) | 57 |
| Food systems, supply chains and security | 36 |
| Food waste and by-product value | 24 |
| Nutrition, malnutrition and health | 20 |
| Food processing, safety and fortification | 11 |
Most cited work on food and farming
- Machine Learning Applications for Precision Agriculture: A Comprehensive Review (IEEE Access, 2021), cited 1054 times.
- Encapsulation of plant biocontrol bacteria with alginate as a main polymer material (International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021), cited 217 times.
- Transforming Farming: A Review of AI-Powered UAV Technologies in Precision Agriculture (Drones, 2024), cited 138 times.
- A comprehensive overview of nanotechnology in sustainable agriculture (Journal of Biotechnology, 2022), cited 120 times.
- Blockchain-Enabled Supply Chain platform for Indian Dairy Industry: Safety and Traceability (Foods, 2022), cited 119 times.
The full list of 254 publications since 2011, with links, is on the zero hunger research publications page (also available as a spreadsheet).
Research spotlights
Fortified rice for Uttarakhand
UPES hosts staff of the Technical Support Unit for rice fortification, sponsored by the UN World Food Programme, who support the Government of Uttarakhand in adding essential micronutrients to rice, a staple eaten every day.
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Food security and nutrition
Dr Shikha Saxena co-edited Agriculture, Nutrition, and Resilience: Recent Insights and Innovations (2025), with chapters on food security and on using artificial intelligence for better nutrition.
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Value from food waste
Dr Ranjna Sirohi researches turning food-processing and farm by-products into useful resources, and co-authored the introduction to Sustainable Technologies for Food Waste Management (2025).
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Soil, climate and future foods
Dr Imana Pal studies how soil salinisation driven by climate change threatens food security, and the potential of marine microalgae as sustainable functional foods (2025).
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More research
- Crops and soil for small farmers. Projects use nanotechnology to boost crop yields and soil health, and develop affordable seed treatments for small farmers.
- Healthier everyday foods. Researchers have developed probiotic-rich yogurt from local strains, and gluten-free, calcium-fortified multi-millet biscuits sweetened with jaggery as a nutritious alternative to refined wheat flour (Foods, 2024).
- Fighting anaemia. Prof Padma Venkat uses traditional herbs and fruits to address anaemia and nutrition.
- SWACHH Incubation Centre. Dr Nidhi Chauhan and her team won a BIRAC grant to set up the SWACHH (Social Wellness, Agriculture, Clean and Hospitable Habitat) Incubation Centre, one of the first SPARSH-BIRAC centres in Uttarakhand, which will mentor fellows and social innovators in farm-to-plate solutions, climate resilience and public health over five years.
- Himalayan food resources. The Himalayan Institute for Learning and Leadership (HILL) studies the nutritional value of wild Himalayan berries and promotes the cultivation, processing and marketing of Bhanjira (Perilla frutescens) to raise incomes in hill communities.
Sources and further reading
Every initiative above has its own page with details, figures, photographs and sources; select its name to open it.