Banyan Roots stems from the vision that traditional farming practices in India must no longer be relegated to the sidelines, or even abandoned in favour of mass-scale agricultural systems and processes. Farmers must be empowered to reclaim their rightful place within the food chain – a right that does not just help to preserve many centuries of learning that would otherwise be lost, but also plays a crucial role in conserving indigenous seeds, and preserving the nutritional integrity and taste of the food we eat, in addition to conserving the quality of the soil it is produced on, which is undoubtedly one of our country’s greatest natural resources.

Our team extensively researched traditional farming techniques and methodologies to find that the food produced through traditional means doesn’t just taste better but is also more nutritious. Modern consumers often cast aside traditionally produced foodstuffs in favour of more heavily marketed and advertised commercial produce. However, going back to our agrarian roots and developing a more holistic view of the food that finally makes its way to our tables are crucial to ensure that Indian farmers and villages have the self-sufficiency that allows them to keep growing nutritious, live-giving produce. Through Banyan Roots, we hope to revive consumers’ interest in indigenous crops and seeds, as well as the time and tradition-tested techniques that are used to tend to them. We seek to create an engaged community that connects both ends of the spectrum – food consumers and producers – and offers them an engaging and collaborative platform.