March 23, 2011

Earth Democracy

“We need once more to feel at home on the earth and with each other.”



In 1984, the organisation Navdanya was started by Vandana Shiva to help India’s small farmers develop organic farming methods and ensure biodiversity.

Navdanya is a network of seed keepers and organic producers spread across 16 states in India and, so far, has helped set up 54 community seed banks across the country, trained over 500,000 farmers in seed sovereignty, food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture over the past two decades, and helped setup the largest direct marketing, fair trade organic network in the country.

Navdanya has also set up a learning center, Bija Vidyapeeth (School of the Seed) on its biodiversity conservation and organic farm in Doon Valley, Uttranchal, north India.

Navdanya is actively involved in the rejuvenation of indigenous knowledge and culture. It has created awareness on the hazards of genetic engineering, defended people's knowledge from biopiracy and food rights in the face of globalisation and climate change.

To read more about the excellent work this organisation is involved in, check out this link here.

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