The Art of Living – Sri Sri Institute of Agricultural Sciences & Technology Trust (AOL‑SSIAST) was honoured with the AIASA National Award 2026 and the Institution of Excellence Award 2025 during the inaugural session of the 5th International Conference on Organic and Natural Rice Production Systems (ORP‑5) on 21 September 2026. The awards were presented by former Union Minister of State Dr Satyapal Singh in the presence of Prof (Dr.) Sahadeva Singh, Chief Policy Advisor of the All India Agricultural Students Association (AIASA) and Chairman of the Organising Committee, and Prof Y.V. Singh, Organising Secretary of ORP‑5.
Founded in 2009 under the guidance of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, AOL‑SSIAST focuses on reviving traditional farming practices through Natural Farming programmes that aim to reduce synthetic input use, improve soil health, enhance biodiversity and enable self‑reliant farming systems. According to the Trust’s latest impact figures, more than 3.5 million farmers across 24 states have received training in Natural Farming, and 5,56,157 acres of land have been converted to climate‑resilient agriculture. The Trust has also built a network of over 2,300 Natural Farming trainers and has specifically trained 1,15,000 farmers in districts identified as suicide‑prone.
The Trust’s approach combines classroom instruction with practical field exposure, farmer‑led demonstrations, model farms and seasonal guidance, enabling participants to prepare farm‑based inputs and apply Natural Farming techniques throughout the crop cycle. Independent impact assessments for the period 2018‑2020, externally assured by KPMG, recorded profit increases of 52 % in Jalna district, 47 % in Kolhapur district and 27 % in Latur district, together with reductions in fertilizer costs of 72 %, 64 % and 45 % respectively in the same districts.
Among its flagship initiatives is the Rewa Model Farm in Madhya Pradesh, which serves as a live demonstration and training centre for Natural Farming practices. Beyond cultivation, AOL‑SSIAST’s environmental programmes report the planting of more than 100 million trees worldwide, the production of 38.7 lakh Lakshmi Taru saplings and the creation and dispersal of 2.5 lakh seed balls for ecosystem restoration.
The awards recognise not only the institutional effort but also the collective contribution of farmers, trainers, volunteers, agricultural experts and community members who have helped translate Natural Farming knowledge from training centres to fields and villages. The Trust reaffirms its commitment to reviving soil health, empowering farmers and building an agricultural future where people and nature thrive together.