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Our Work

Safe & Sustainable Food Environments

To improve the quality and safety of food in the informal economy, street food spaces, and school settings using practical, low-cost, scalable models.

Ongoing Projects

Safe Street Food Seal Initiative (2025)
  • Aims to certify street food vendors on food safety and hygiene through practical checklists and training.
  • Vision alignment: Supports food safety without undermining the viability of informal markets.

Launched by the Food Future Foundation in collaboration with Janpahal, it is a people-powered movement to restore consumer trust, promote hygiene, and celebrate the cultural richness of India’s street food. The initiative empowers street vendors with practical training in food safety and hygiene, and recognizes those who voluntarily commit to high standards with a digital “trust mark.” Each vendor’s cart carries a QR code that links to real-time inspection records, verification status, and consumer reviews creating transparency, building pride, and encouraging responsible food choices.

Safe Street Food Seal Initiative (2025)

More than just a badge, the Safe Street Food Seal represents a community-driven effort to make safe, sustainable street food a national norm. Inspired by global models like Fairtrade, the initiative aims to enhance livelihoods, strengthen public health, and recognize vendors as key contributors to India’s food system. With expected outcomes including policy inputs, wider partnerships, and integrated consumer engagement, the initiative offers a scalable model for inclusive food safety transforming every street food stall into a trusted space for nourishment and celebration.

Completed Projects

Estimate Household Food Waste (2021–22)
  • Assessed food waste behaviours in Indian homes to inform future reduction strategies.
  • Built the evidence base for behavioural and system change around food waste.

The Food Future Foundation conducted a pioneering study to estimate household-level food waste across 12 Indian cities. Supported by CII-FACE, Hindustan Unilever (HUL), and IFCOS, the study aimed to inform action plans for reducing food waste at its source, the home. With households contributing over 60% of global food waste, this research responds to the urgent call for targeted, data-driven solutions aligned with global sustainability efforts. 

Food Waste in Households of Major Indian Cities - A Report
Eat Right: Food Systems Approach Textbook (2020)

Introduced food systems thinking and nutrition education through systems understanding.

 

The Eat Right: Food Systems Approach textbook, published in 2020 by the Food Future Foundation, serves as a reference resource for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in food, nutrition, and public health. Developed by over 50 experts and edited by Pawan Agarwal and Professor Pulkit Mathur of Lady Irwin College, it offers an integrated view of food systems linking food safety, nutrition, environment, climate change, and livelihoods. The book is now being promoted for adoption in academic institutions to sensitize students to the food systems approach and build a new generation of food-literate professionals.

 

Eat Right - A Food Systems Approach
National Awards for Sustainable Sourcing (2020, 2021)
  • Recognized food businesses adopting sustainable sourcing practices.
  • Promotes environmental responsibility in food value chains.

These awards recognized companies and CSR initiatives promoting natural farming and livelihood protection through sustainable sourcing. Based on adapted World Benchmarking Alliance indicators, entries were assessed across five pillars: governance, environmental partnerships, nutrition and food safety, social inclusion, and innovation. Awards were given across large and small value chains and CSR projects, spotlighting leaders like ITC, Amul, Tata Consumer Products, and Nestlé. In partnership with CII-FACE, the initiative celebrated industry role models and encouraged responsible sourcing practices for a more just and sustainable food system.

Awards for Outstanding Performance

  • ITC

Large Value Chain (Spices) Category

  • Amway India

Corporate Small Value Chain Category

  • Tata Consumer Products

Commendation Certificates

  • LT Foods (Basmati Rice)
  • ADM Agro Industries India Pvt. Ltd.   (Oilseeds)
  • Keventer Agro Ltd.    (Banana)
  • Marico Limited     (Dry Coconut –Copra)
  • Mondelez India Foods Pvt Ltd (Cocoa)
  • GVR Proteins (Besan)

Trendsetter in Sustainable Sourcing & Livelihood Protection 

  • Amul 

Award for Outstanding Performance 

  • Jain Farm Fresh Onion

Commendation for Significant Achievement

  • Coca Cola  (Fruit Circular Economy)
  • Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (Tomato Ketchup)
  • Nestle -Coffee

Commendation for Strong Commitment to Excel

  • Nestle – Dairy
  • Olam – Rice
  • ADM – Oilseeds

Certificate of Appreciation

  • Mondelez – Cocoa Beans
  • Nestle – Spices
  • Olam – Coffee
  • Olam – Spices
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