Urban Regeneration – Sustainable Ambassador Program

Championing Sustainability in Atlanta: A New Chapter Begins

We are excited to share that our team member, Gayathri Ilango, has been selected to join the City of Atlanta’s Sustainability Ambassador Program, led by the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Resilience. This program equips community leaders with the tools, training, and networks to support Atlanta’s ambitious sustainability goals and climate action strategies.

The program focuses on key pillars of urban sustainability—clean energy transition, climate justice, waste reduction, water and land stewardship, and equitable access to green infrastructure. Through a series of hands-on workshops and discussions, participants explore the systemic challenges and opportunities in shaping a more inclusive and resilient Atlanta.

Gayathri brings to this role a deep background in regenerative agriculture and land stewardship. While the ambassador program addresses a broad range of sustainability goals, she is especially focused on integrating resilient food systems into the city’s climate strategy. “Atlanta’s future depends on reimagining how we produce and share food,” says Gayathri. “Urban agriculture, circular food economies, and equitable land access must be part of the climate conversation.”

This role reinforces our commitment to community-based, regenerative solutions. Whether it’s improving soil health, supporting local growers, or advocating for green policy at the city level, we’re proud to be part of Atlanta’s growing movement toward sustainability.

Stay tuned as Gayathri continues to represent and co-create efforts that regenerate land, empower communities, and inspire local climate action.

Can Tamil Nadu lead a regenerative agricultural movement?

Tamil Nadu can absolutely build a regenerative agriculture model , and it’s well-positioned to lead such a transition in India due to:
1. Agro-climatic Diversity From the Western Ghats to the Cauvery delta, Tamil Nadu supports multiple cropping systems (rainfed, irrigated, coastal, hill). This diversity allows for region-specific regenerative models: millets in drylands, spices in hills, rice-fish systems in wetlands, etc.

2. Existing Traditional Knowledge Siddha medicine, native seed saving, natural farming (like Subash Palekar’s Zero Budget Farming), and temple-centered agroecology are already part of Tamil culture. Communities still remember multicropping, water-harvesting, and forest-farm systems.

3. Political and Institutional Will Tamil Nadu’s Department of Agriculture, TNAU (Tamil Nadu Agricultural University), and Agricultural Marketing Board are investing in:
  • Climate-resilient agriculture
  • Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)
  • Digital extension and market linkages

4. Youth and Diaspora Engagement There is a growing movement among the Tamil diaspora and rural youth returning to farming—ideal for championing regenerative models with tech and global market access.
We are at the pilot stage of initiating the biggest regenerative agricultural movement in Tamil Nadu with support from spice growers in southern India. India is one of the leading producers of spice in the world and our export market is growing more. Tamil Nadu is one of India’s key spice-growing states—producing chili, turmeric, coriander, fennel, pepper, and tamarind. However, rising input costs, declining soil fertility, erratic rainfall, and market volatility are pushing smallholder farmers into distress. Spices are high-value, low-volume crops—perfect for climate-smart, regenerative farming models that integrate soil health, biodiversity, and farmer profitability. With growing international demand for ethical, traceable, and climate-positive spices, Tamil Nadu is poised to lead the regenerative spice revolution. Stay tuned for more!