SEHAT – Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation is a joint initiative of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Key Highlights of SEHAT
- Vision: Transform agriculture from food production system into powerful driver of nutrition, health, and well-being for India.
- Five Priority Areas of National Significance:
- Development and evaluation of biofortified and nutrient-dense crop varieties: Address malnutrition and improve nutritional status.
- Biofortification increases nutrient density of food crops through conventional plant breeding, and/or improved agronomic practices and/or modern biotechnology without sacrificing key characteristics.
- E.g., enriching with zinc, iron and other nutrients.
- Strengthening Integrated Farming Systems: Promote dietary diversification, enhance farm incomes, and build resilience.
- Addressing Occupational Health Risks: Among agricultural workers through targeted, evidence-based interventions.
- Prevention and management of non-communicable diseases: Advancing agriculture-enabled strategies through promotion of functional foods and nutritionally superior crop varieties.
- One Health preparedness: Integrated surveillance, diagnostics, and research at human–animal–environment interface.
- Development and evaluation of biofortified and nutrient-dense crop varieties: Address malnutrition and improve nutritional status.
- Significance
- Proactive, Preventive, and Holistic approach to Healthcare as against reactive and curative model.
- Address Dual burden of undernutrition and overnutrition rising non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension and cancer, etc.
- “Whole of government” and “Whole of systems” approach integrating science, policy making and implementation.
