In rural contexts, the Lab focuses on food sovereignty—the right of communities to decide what they eat and how food is produced. Here, questions of access and control over natural resources—land, forests, water, and commons—are central. Rural food environments are closely tied to biodiversity and cultural traditions, yet increasingly threatened by homogenisation and market forces. By surfacing the struggles and leadership of women, dalits, adivasis and other marginalized groups, the Lab highlights how equity and resource rights underpin resilient rural diets.

In urban contexts, the Lab examines how rapid urbanisation, changing lifestyles, and food retail systems shape what ends up on the plate. An Urban Food Systems survey carried out by the Lab provides insight into how Indians eat and how affordability, access, and cultural preferences guide dietary choices. The findings help identify systemic barriers to healthy diets in cities, from affordability to access to fresh produce, to the dominance of highly processed foods.

By bringing rural and urban perspectives together, this Action Lab emphasizes that food environments are not just about consumption—they are about rights, resources, culture, and justice. It works to ensure that diverse voices and lived realities shape India’s evolving food futures.