OOO Farms ®

. Wheat Diversity ============ A 5000-year-old wheat variety was excavated from the Harappa Indus Valley Civilization. And this story didn’t end underground. Across India, a few ancient native wheat varieties quietly survived — preserved by generations of farmers who kept saving seeds while the world moved toward industrial monocultures. Paigambari. Khapli. Kali Baal. Bansi. These are not just grains. They are living agricultural history. Long before modern hybrid wheat replaced biodiversity with uniformity, India cultivated thousands of native grain varieties adapted to different soils, climates, and cultures. Many disappeared. Some survived. Today, OOO Farms is conserving 557 native wheat varieties — keeping alive a legacy carried through centuries of cultivation. Because extinction begins when cultivation ends. And every time someone chooses native grains, biodiversity survives a little longer. Explore India’s ancient wheat varieties at ooofarms.com #AncientGrains #Harappa #IndusValleyCivilization #NativeWheat #OOOFarms Khapli Bansi RegenerativeAgriculture Biodiversity IndianHeritage AncientIndia SlowFood DesiWheat SeedConservation EatNative SustainableFarming

. A holobiont is defined as an entity with many species around it forming an ecological unit through the processes of symbiosis. Almost like the moving parts of any vehicle. Together they form a complete whole that is not independent in its own right and may, in fact, fall if it became so. The complete whole is intertwined in its relationships with its surroundings in order to not only grow, but also, thrive. We see this often with trees and their surrounding fungi and bushes and shrubs in the thick forests of the Sahyadri mountains. A bewildering artwork comes to life every monsoon and the bionts are communicating and laughing and celebrating the relieving rain. The #tribal communities living in their proximity join into this celebration and through them, us. And this magnificent revelry finally results in the Wild Food Festival that we get to share with all of you, every year. And what a wonderful event it was this year. We got to meet people from all walks of life and discuss the abundance of #wild #foods that surrounds us just 100 kms outside Mumbai. We got to work closely with Rizvi College and their wonderful batch of students and faculty who brought out their culinary creativity to the fore. Not to forget, we got to work with an inspiring bunch of restaurants in Mumbai and Pune who took the talk and walk of wild foods to another culinary level. And we, at OOO Farms, could never have pulled it off if not for an amazing team consisting of Chef Thomas and The Locavore. Along with that, a very heartfelt and huge thank you to Chaitali, Henita and Aditi who worked nonstop and as our hands and legs during the festival. At the helm of this festival, however, are the tribal #communities who worked day in and day out to forage the wild ingredients through the month of August and then cooked nonstop the night prior and the day leading upto the time of the festival. Without them, nothing of the WFF is even remotely possible. All in all, we are grateful to be a part of this holobiont - a beautiful community, the existence of which makes us believe in a future led by the wisdom of the mountains, the strength of the forests and the gentleness of the rivers.

. Okra ==== A resilient plant, Okra has been long loved for its taste and adaptability in curries to snacks. But besides the culinary usage, Okra has also been a hardy crop used therapeutically, to make household utility goods and to help process other foods like jaggery. However, in recent years, the wisdom to use Okra in different ways has been lost. And this has resulted mostly from losing the diversity of Okra. Where different varieties of Okra were used for varied purposes, now only about 5-6 varieties might be used in only food preparations. The biodiversity is shrinking and sadly, with it, the inter-generational knowledge is also eroding. In an effort to conserve whatever remains of the Okra biodiversity, OOO Farms is conserving 142 varieties of Okra and hopes to spread it to tribal farming communities to continue their existence. #biodiversity #okra #conservation

🌟 MEET OUR NOMINEE 🌟 OOO Farms @ooofarms is a social venture. A movement engaged in more than 63 tribal hamlets in Maharashtra and Gujarat, they work with about 2200 indigenous people trying to safeguard indigenous farming practices, 6500 varieties of native seeds and tribal communal culture. It is due to the efforts of the indigenous people that thousands of varieties of native heirloom seeds are still being preserved. OOO Farms is hoping to conserve these indigenous practices that will eventually guide us towards better Soil Health and Human Gut Health. Restoration of life is all but an interconnected web where symbiosis is of utmost value. We are proud to have them as our nominee 🩵 The Restore Awards®️ began in 2019 as an initiative to celebrate those impacting mental health, Nutrition and Sustainable living by @kindnesspractice foundation. Gratitude Hosted by JW Marriott Sahar @jwmarriottsahar Nutrition Partner The Right Shift @maketherightshift Gift Partner Organic India @organicindiaofficial Beverage Partner The Honest Blend @thehonestblend.in #awards #mentalhealth #humanhealth #rachnarestores #rachnachhachhi

When was the last time you sat down at a table with strangers… and left with stories, laughter, and new friends? This isn’t just a meal. It’s an experience. Calling you all to the first edition of Malun T Variv Khen Chen — a supper club where authentic Kashmiri cuisine meets meaningful conversation. 🍽️ Discover lost recipes from Srinagar 🫶 Meet new people, no awkward small talk ✨ Leave with more than just a full stomach Only 10 seats. Intentional. #supperclub#kashmiri #foodblooger

Bhatachi Pangat, 2026. A strange, beautiful meal to put together. because we're often figuring things out as we go. A month of testing. A lot of ideas that didn't make it. And a handful that finally did. This is what made it to the table. See you next year.

. Khapli Emmer Wheat 🌾 ================== A 5000-year-old ancient grain that has truly stood the test of time. Long before modern hybrid wheat took over our fields, Khapli thrived — resilient, hardy, and deeply rooted in our agricultural heritage. Even today, it continues to prove its strength. This year brought unexpected challenges — three untimely rains and even a hailstorm, conditions far from ideal for wheat. Yet, Khapli stood tall. That’s the beauty of ancient wisdom. This wheat isn’t just a crop — it’s survival, adaptability, and resilience embodied. At OOO Farms, we are committed to preserving this legacy. We currently conserve 557 accessions of wheat across India, maintaining their genetic purity and detailed records. Among these, we proudly nurture 16 distinct varieties of Khapli (Emmer) wheat — each one a living piece of history. In a world moving fast toward uniformity, we choose diversity. In a system chasing yield, we protect resilience. Because the future of food lies in remembering the past. 🌱 To experience Khapli on your plate visit #AncientGrains #KhapliWheat #EmmerWheat #FoodHeritage RegenerativeAgriculture SeedSaving OOOFarms Biodiversity ResilientFarming

Once home to nearly 100,000 indigenous varieties of rice, just a fraction dominate everyday markets in India today. Over the past six decades, shifts in agricultural policy, market systems, and consumer habits have reshaped what ends up on our plates—boosting output but dramatically reducing biodiversity and farmer autonomy. Today, native and heritage rice varieties are often seen as expensive, niche, difficult to cook, or reserved for special occasions. Join our virtual #BeyondThePlate session—‘Beyond Basmati: Making Native Rices Part of Your Everyday Kitchen’—as we unpack these assumptions and ask a simpler, more practical question: what if native rice isn’t a trending food, but a staple we’ve simply forgotten how to use? Bringing together co-founders of two of our #TLpartner producers—Shailesh Awate (@pointblankshoot ) of @OOOFarms and @Devi_LakshmiKutty of @BioBasicsIn —this conversation will explore what it takes to bring indigenous rice back into everyday kitchens through seed conservation, farmer networks, retail systems, and shifting consumer habits. The session will be moderated by our Partnerships Lead @NeilKhopkar . 📅 Thursday, 12 March 2026 ⏰ 5:30–6:30 pm 📍 Online (Google Meet) Book your free spot by filling out the registration form—link in bio. And share it with someone who will find this important dialogue useful! 🌾

It was a quiet joy to host PARAMPARA – The Baithak once again — gathered around a table shaped by memory, tradition, and warmth. The evening unfolded gently with a curated menu inspired by the flavours of France, Spain & Italy — unhurried conversations, shared laughter, and the comfort that only a thoughtfully laid table can offer. Moments like these reaffirm my belief that the table is where stories are exchanged and meaningful connections are truly made. My heartfelt gratitude to the partners who helped bring this vision to life — OOO Farms for the exquisite Tulshya rice, Cambay Tiger for the finest prawns and poultry, Sepoy & Co for their sparkling Himalayan mixers & specially New Horizon Wines & Spirits India LLP & Dutch Courage for curating New Chapter Wine, Boatyard Double Gin & Don Santos Tequila for the evening. #ParamparaTheBaithak #SupperClubEvenings #SharedStories #CulinaryExperiences #TableOfConnections Gratitude ChefLife MumbaiDining ArtOfHosting NewHorizonWines&SpiritsIndiaLLp, Dutch Courage, DonSantos, NewChapterWines BoatyardDoubleGin

Nine courses. Nine native rice varieties. Countless hands behind each grain. Bhatachi Pangat returns as a shared meal, honouring the farmers, communities, and traditions that keep India’s folk rice alive, in collaboration with @ooofarms . Reserve your spot via the link in bio for 27th, 28th February and 1st March, to join us at Ground up!

भाताची पंगत Bhatachi Pangat This year, Bhatachi Pangat returns as a nine-course exploration of native rice, in collaboration with @ooofarms . Nine varieties, diverse techniques, and conversations around India’s folk rice culture. Join us on 27th, 28th February & 1st March, at Ground Up. Reservations via the link in bio.

Once home to over 1,00,000 native rice varieties, only a few thousand survive in India today. To understand the impact of this loss on our food systems, we spoke to Shailesh Awate (@pointblankshoot ), co-founder of our #TLpartner producer @OOOFarms , about why preserving and reviving these varieties is at the centre of their work, and the promise this holds in a rapidly warming world. From the 1960s onwards, the Green Revolution has significantly impacted the diversity of farmlands across India. While the production of rice doubled—owing to the introduction of high-yield alternatives—it did so at the expense of native seed cultivation. On @TheLocavore.in website (link in bio), watch our exclusive conversation with Shailesh, led by Projects Editor @MuktaVPatil to know why the revival of native seeds is at the centre of the ecosystem @OOOFarms is working towards, and how they hold the answers to some of the most pressing challenges within our agricultural systems. This story is part of our Feeding the Future Project—a storytelling collaboration between @TheLocavore.in and Hands of Transition. Hands of Transition is a global initiative that connects communities leading the transformation of food systems. Officially launched in 2025 by @Purpose , it brings design, storytelling, and ground-up action together to ensure that the people most affected by climate and food insecurity are also shaping the solutions. #BeyondRelief #HandsOfTransition #OOOFarms #FeedingTheFutureProject