On 18th February 2025, the Department of Anthropology at the University of Hyderabad hosted a guest lecture titled Biochar and the Anthropology of Soil Health in India. The session was delivered by Daniel Münster, Associate Professor of Medical Anthropology at the Institute for Health & Society, University of Oslo. The session began with a formal introduction of the speaker and his works by Dr. Alok Kumar Pandey, Department of Anthropology, University of Hyderabad, before the lecture commenced at 11:00 AM.
The lecture attracted a diverse audience, including students and faculty members from various disciplines. Daniel Münster shared insights from his two-and-a-half-decade-long fieldwork in South India, specifically Tamil Nadu and Kerala. His research spans several topics, such as agriculture, health, public health, and sanitation. Münster discussed the intersections of health and agriculture, focusing on the region’s landscapes and their impact on human well-being. He also explored food systems in annual cycles and their relation to health. Additionally, he examined the tragic phenomenon of farmer suicides in Kerala, linked to the migration of people to the Wayanad district and its impact on changing landscapes.
Münster’s research also explored agricultural practices in Kerala, including the cultivation of Cassava, Pepper, and Coffee. He emphasised the importance of ethnographic immersion, Multiple Ontologies, Material Semiotics, Actor-Network Theory, and Multispecies Studies in understanding the relationship between mental health and agriculture. According to him, landscapes are central to his study, and he discussed Praxiography (Practice & Ethnography), which integrates Anthropology with Science & Technology Studies, drawing from Annemarie Mol’s work. Additionally, he spoke about Agronomical Pluralism, inspired by the concept of Medical Pluralism, and categorised Indian agricultural practices into Natural Farming, Organic Farming, and Chemical Farming.
Münster also addressed the rise of the bio-nativist approach, particularly in relation to the revival of the Indigenous desi cow. After providing an overview of his earlier research, he shifted focus to his current project on Biochar. Citing the 2009 Copenhagen Summit, he detailed his three months of fieldwork in Gujarat, highlighting how local tribal communities are benefiting from the biochar and carbon credits market. Münster discussed the key players and the functioning of the biochar and carbon credits market and mentioned that he continues to visit various sites across India to expand his understanding of biochar and its contemporary applications.
The lecture concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where students and faculty raised insightful questions and discussions. Dr. Nanda Kishore Kannuri summarised the lecture, emphasising the importance of emerging research in medical anthropology. He also spoke about the potential for future collaborations in this interdisciplinary field.
Contributed by Akhilesh Bonthu (24SAPH05), Doctoral Student, Department of Anthropology, University of Hyderabad