Amrita University project wins best innovator award at Global Sustainability Summit

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has received the SGP Best Innovator Award at the 25th World Sustainable Development Summit 2026 in New Delhi for its “Blue Is The New Pink” ocean farming initiative that promotes women-led climate action and sustainable livelihoods in coastal communities.
The recognition was conferred under the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, a global partnership supporting community-based environmental initiatives.
The project is implemented by the Center for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, a research centre that has held the UNESCO Chair since 2016. The award was received on behalf of the university by Bhavani Rao R., project director, during a ceremony held at Taj Palace in New Delhi.
The initiative integrates ocean-based farming with life skills and entrepreneurship training to support coastal women in building sustainable livelihoods while contributing to ecological restoration.
Under the programme, women’s collectives cultivate seaweed and convert the harvest into value-added products such as pickles and soaps, which are marketed locally and nationally. The project has also contributed to the restoration of more than six hectares of seagrass meadows and the cleaning of about 12 kilometres of coastline, helping protect fragile marine ecosystems.
In addition to cultivation, the project provides training to women in swimming, seaweed farming techniques, processing, product development and marketing. The programme aims to equip participants with the skills required to become self-reliant entrepreneurs in the emerging blue economy.
The initiative is implemented under the Small Grants Programme with support from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the United Nations Development Programme and The Energy and Resources Institute. Additional co-financing support has been provided by ESRI and Transworld Group.
Project members said the guidance of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Chancellor Mata Amritanandamayi Devi and the leadership of Bhavani Rao R. played a key role in the success of the initiative.
Representatives of the Center for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality said the recognition would encourage more women to participate in climate action and environmental conservation in the coming years.