ANNAM – National Food & Agro-biodiversity Festival
Reviving Food Wisdom, Ensuring Health and Sovereignty
ANNAM, named after the Sanskrit word for “food”, is a people’s movement and biennial festival organized by the Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA). It is a powerful response to the fast-food era — promoting good food, food security, food sovereignty, and the agro-biodiversity of India.
Launched in 2007 in the presence of Carlo Petrini (Founder of Slow Food International) and Dr. Vandana Shiva, ANNAM reclaims India’s rich culinary traditions and aligns food with health, environment, and ethics.
The Philosophy Behind ANNAM
Inspired by the Prasna Upanishad, where “Annam is Brahma” (Food is Divine), the ANNAM movement sees food not merely as sustenance but as a sacred link to soil, seed, climate, culture, and health.
It is a call to resist the harmful impacts of processed, industrial foods and to revive traditional food systems rooted in diversity, locality, and sustainability.
Objectives of ANNAM
- Promote food literacy among citizens, especially youth and children
- Restore traditional knowledge about healthy diets and cooking methods
- Protect and celebrate local food crops, recipes, and farming practices
- Advocate for safe, organic, and ethically produced food
- Foster discussions around food rights, public health, and agroecology
