Bringing the earth & biodiversity to the heart of agriculture

Each of us whether we are farmers or eaters faces a choice between two systems. One is a system based on globalised cooperate control, chemicals and poisons, GMO and patent monopolies & fossil fuels which is contributing to 75% of the planets ecological destruction, wiping the livelihoods of small farmers and family farms and creating an epidemic of food style diseases. The second food system is based on strong vibrant local economies, ecological processes that rejuvenate our soil, biodiversity, water, are based on suns energy not fossil fuels from the growing to the cooking & processing of food. Organic food combined with solar cooking hold the promise of generating meaningful work while addressing problems of health and climate chaos.

For 30 years Navdanya has practiced biodiversity and community centred agroecological agriculture that enrich soils, enhance farmers incomes and increase nutrition and health.

In 2017 over 22 participants from US, UK, Canada, Singapore, Italy, France, and India have attended this course that is focused on teaching organic farming, with special emphasis on seed saving, agro-ecological methods of farming & sustainability and organic food system.

Many esteemed faculties have come to the farm to make this course more diverse and memorable. Dr. Salvatore Ceccarelli is known as custodian of biodiversity, and is a sought-after consultant in barley breeding and particularly research. Formerly full-time professor in Agriculture Genetics at the University of Perugia. Other faculty included Dr Vandana Shiva, eminent environmental and director of Navdanya. Dr.Vir Singh, professor of environmental science in G.B.Pant Agriculture University, Pantnagar, India. Av Singh, who is a Organic & Rural Infrastructure Specialist with Perennia in Nova Scotia, working predominantly with organic and small-scale farmers on issues of production, processing, and marketing of agricultural goods and services, Marilyn McHugh and Chris Kennedy are a Biologist and Teacher, husband and wife team who founded The Hummingbird Project, a non-profit organization that works for social justice through ecological regeneration and community empowerment. Other esteemed individual who shared their valuable knowledge were Maya Goburdhun, Dr Mira Shiva and Narsanna Koppula.

Also read: Glimpses of Navdanya’s A-Z Agro-ecology Course 2017

2016 Highlights: http://seedfreedom.info/annual-a-z-of-agroecology-organic-food-systems-begins-at-navdanya/

2015 Highlights: http://seedfreedom.info/a-z-of-agroecology-and-organic-food-systems-2015/

2014 Highlights: http://seedfreedom.info/a-z-of-agroecology-and-organic-food-system/

Seed Thoughts from Navdanya

My story and my Navdanya inspired farm, by Isaac Pabia — Ghana