Navdanya Earth University · Bija Vidyapeeth · Dehradun
A to Z of Biodiversity,
Agroecology &
Regenerative Organic Farming
13 days. 9 world-class faculty. One living farm. One shared table.
📅 3–15 October 2026
📍 Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
🌱 Residential · Immersive
🎓 Certificate Program
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About the Program
Learning from Nature.
Learning from Farmers.
Located in the Doon Valley, Bija Vidyapeeth — the Earth University — is Navdanya's flagship living learning centre. Inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's Shanti Niketan philosophy, this 13-day residential program places you directly on a working organic farm, learning by doing alongside farmers and international experts.
"At the Navdanya farm, nature is the teacher. Farmers are the teachers. Community is the classroom."
Associated with Schumacher College, UK, Bija Vidyapeeth offers one of the most comprehensive immersive programs in regenerative agriculture available anywhere in the world.
Learn on a Living Organic Farm
Hands-on field sessions every morning on Navdanya's working farm — seed saving, soil preparation, companion planting, and traditional agricultural practices.
9 World-Class International Faculty
Led by Dr Vandana Shiva, with experts from IFOAM, the UN FAO, and leading regenerative agriculture institutions across 6 continents.
Live, Eat & Grow as Community
A fully residential experience — shared meals, morning circles, evening film screenings, and one-on-one farm design consultations every afternoon.
Certificate from Earth University
Participants receive a certificate from Bija Vidyapeeth — Earth University, recognized by Navdanya International and associated with Schumacher College, UK.
Who Should Attend
This program is for you if…
You believe food, farming, and the future of the planet are inseparable.
Farmers & Agronomists
Agricultural Students
Nutritionists & Health Professionals
Environmental Activists
Policy Advocates
Permaculture Practitioners
Sustainability Researchers
Food System Change-Makers
Anyone Who Cares About the Planet
Program Schedule
13 Days of Immersive Learning
Tap each day to explore lectures, field sessions, speakers, and evening films.
Topics & Activities
- Lighting of the lamp — opening ceremony
- Navdanya movement and historical narrative
- Joint lecture: Gaining an Understanding of Regenerative Agriculture
- Farm walk — Navdanya Heart Connection
- "Don't just do something, sit there" — biodiversity meditation
Speakers
Dr Vandana Shiva · Prof André Leu · Maya Goburdhun · Navdanya Team
Evening Film
🎬 Seeds of Vandana Shiva
Topics & Activities
- Shifting from Industrial to Ecological Regenerative Agriculture
- Patents on seeds, GMO, and forgotten foods
- Field lesson: How to save your seed — conservation and treatment
- Navdanya's Kharif cropping pattern · Harvesting crops
Speakers
Dr Vandana Shiva · Soil Food Group · Navdanya Team
Evening Film
🎬 Bullshit
Topics & Activities
- Soil story: an earthworm's eye view — Reworm the World
- Seminar on the Soil Food Web
- Field lesson: Field preparation and sowing for Rabi season
Speakers
Dr Sultan Ismail · Soil Food Group · Dr Vandana Shiva · Navdanya Team
Evening Film
🎬 Symphony of Soil
Topics & Activities
- Maximizing photosynthesis to regenerate farming, environment, and climate
- Turning weeds into cover crops
- Soil health and nutrition in agroecological, regenerative organic agriculture
- Field lesson: Living vs dead mulch, companion planting, above/below ground biodiversity
Speakers
Prof André Leu · Navdanya Team
Evening Film
🎬 Living Soil
Topics & Activities
- Using ecological systems to manage pests and diseases
- Marketing: the key to successful farming
- The myths of safe pesticides
- Field lesson: Vedic Agriculture — Jeevamrit, Panchgavya, Dasgavya, Dasparni
- Making traditional elixirs from gifts of the cow
Speakers
Prof André Leu · Navdanya Team
Evening Film
🎬 Queen of the Sun
Experience
- Visit to Paonta Sahib Gurudwara
- Experience Langar — a free communal meal served at Sikh Gurudwaras
- Cultural immersion: understanding Sewa — the Sikh philosophy of selfless service
Led by
Navdanya Team
Topics & Activities
- Principles, trends and practices of organic agriculture, permaculture, biodynamic farming
- Regenerative farm design: nutrient uptake, fertility, livestock, bio-stimulants, fermented plant extracts
- Field lesson: Sowing the A to Z garden — calibrating moisture, light, and warmth
Speakers
Nadia El-Hage Scialabba · Dr AV Singh
Evening Film
🎬 We Feed the World
Topics & Activities
- Guarantee systems: third-party and participatory organic certification
- Circular economy: long and short food supply chains
- Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA)
- Field lesson: Maintaining the Gyaan Garden and making tree paste
Speakers
Nadia El-Hage Scialabba · Navdanya Team
Evening Film
🎬 After the Flood
Topics & Activities
- The circadian rhythm, body functions, and our modern habits
- Macronutrients, micronutrients, and various vitamins
- Field lesson: Preparing micronutrient-rich chutneys and sauces
Speakers
Dr Anna Powar · Navdanya Team
Evening Film
🎬 Annapurna
Topics & Activities
- Mental and physical health through food
- Reproductive health is connected to healthy meals
- Field lesson: Cooking artisanal snacks
Speakers
Dr Anna Powar · Navdanya Team
Evening Film
🎬 Food Inc
Topics & Activities
- Intellectual property rights: pharmaceutics and public health
- Hazards from the chemicalization of the body
- The right to health
- Field lesson: Living Seed Bank — vegetable seed selection and saving
Speakers
Dr Mira Shiva · Navdanya Team
Evening Film
🎬 Feeding the Four Billion
Topics & Activities
- Ultra-processed foods and youth health
- The fallacy of number-driven diets
- Indigenous food systems
- Field lesson: Living Seed Bank-Seed selection and seed saving of vegetable
Speakers
Dr Suresh Kumar · Navdanya Team
Evening Film
🎬 Climate change at the third pole
Closing Day Activities
- Biodiversity and Climate Resilience as way to combat climate crisis
- Biodiversity at the Navdanya Farm: Regenerating seed, soil, water, wild uncultivated diversity Insects, Birds Diversity
- Field Lesson: Maintaining A toZ, and Gyaan Gardens
- Group photo · Community farewell
Speakers
Dr Vandana Shiva · Bhavana · Dr Preeti Virkar · Navdanya Team
Faculty
World-Class Faculty
Tap a speaker to read their full biography.
V
Dr Vandana Shiva
Ecological Activist · Founder, Navdanya
PhD in Quantum Theory. Founded Navdanya in 1991 — a network of 150 community seed banks across 22 Indian states.
PhD in Quantum Theory, worldwide ecological activist and ecofeminist. She founded the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology in 1982, which led to the creation of Navdanya in 1991 to protect biodiversity and small farmers' rights. Navdanya operates a network of 150 community seed banks across 22 states. In 1993, Vandana received the Right Livelihood Award. In 2004, she co-founded the World Future Council and started Bija Vidyapeeth in Doon Valley, Uttarakhand. Prolific book author and featured in several documentaries.
A
Prof André Leu
Director, Regeneration International
Former President of IFOAM Organics International. Author of 'Poisoning Our Children' and 'Myths of Safe Pesticides'.
Co-founder and Director of Regeneration International. From 2011 to 2017, served as President of IFOAM-Organics International — 850 member organisations in 127 countries. André has an organic tropical fruit farm in Daintree, Australia. Over 40 years, he visited and worked in farms in about 100 countries across all continents. He authored 'Growing Life', 'Poisoning our Children' and 'The Myths of Safe Pesticides.' Adjunct Professor of Regenerative Agriculture at South Seas University, Australia.
N
Nadia El-Hage Scialabba
Senior Fellow, Arizona State University
30+ years at the UN FAO leading the global organic agriculture programme. Author of 128 books and articles on food system governance.
Trained ecologist, with over three decades of work at the United Nations Organization of Food and Agriculture, Rome, where she led the inter-disciplinary organic agriculture programme. She developed projects all over the world, including technical, policy and regulatory assistance to countries. Since 2019, Senior Fellow at the Swette Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, Arizona State University, USA. She wrote and co-authored 128 books and articles on various aspects of food system governance.
S
Dr Sultan Ismail
Soil Ecologist · Vermicomposting Expert
PhD in Soil Ecology. World-renowned for vermicomposting ('vermitech'). Former Director, Ecoscience Research Foundation, Chennai.
PhD in Soil Ecology, renowned for his work on vermicomposting ('vermitech'). He has held various academic and research positions, served on government bodies in India, and contributed expertise in many countries. Former Director of the Ecoscience Research Foundation in Chennai. Member of the State Planning Commission of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Written several books and published over 70 research papers on organic waste management, biotechnology research, and the significance of earthworms.
A
Dr Anna Powar
PhD Nutrition · Holistic Health Expert
17+ years as faculty at Navdanya Earth University. Author of 'Food Ways: An Indian's Holistic Perspective on Nutrition and Health'.
PhD in Nutrition, professional member of the American Association of Nutritional Consultants since 1988. Faculty at the University of Gastronomic Science in Italy (2005–2007), IIT Hyderabad (2008), and for the last 17 years, Navdanya Earth University. Published 'Food Ways: An Indian's Holistic Perspective on Nutrition and Health', 'Kal: Looking at the Old with New Eyes', and the forthcoming 'The Rhythm of Life'.
A
Dr AV Singh
Regenerative Organic Agronomist
250+ peer-reviewed papers. Speaker at 600+ global conferences. Has visited 2,500+ farms across five continents.
PhD, Regenerative Organic Agronomist, one of the leading proponents of regenerative organic agriculture. Has authored over 250 peer-reviewed papers, chapters, and extension articles and been an invited speaker to over 600 workshops, conferences, and symposia, as well as guest-lecturer at over 30 universities in Canada, the US, UK, and India. Visited over 2,500 farms across five continents, shaping holistic, system-based design solutions that emphasize a union of traditional knowledge with science.
S
Dr Suresh Kumar
Pediatrician · ANNAM Good Food Movement
Founder of the Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action. Author of 'Fast Food: The Lure and the Trap'.
Leading pediatrician in the Kerala Health Department. Founded the Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action, which includes the ANNAM Good Food Movement, the URJA Movement on energy efficient gadgets, and festivals such as the Global Ayurveda Festival and Indian Biodiversity Festival. Authored 'Fast Food: The Lure and the Trap' and 'Bhakshanam Vishamakumbol' on pesticide residues in food and health implications. Co-edited three volumes of 'Perspectives on Biodiversity of India'.
M
Dr Mira Shiva
Public Health Physician · Right to Health Advocate
Director, Initiative for Health Equity and Society. First recipient of the Dr Olle Hannson Award for moral courage (1986).
Public health physician with three decades of practice in primary health care, right to health, and women's health. Director of the Initiative for Health Equity and Society. Co-founded the Health Action International Asia Pacific, and Peoples Health Movement. First recipient of the Dr Olle Hannson Award for moral courage (1986) and contribution to rational use of medicines (2005). Also received the Women Science Award for contribution in prevention of misuse of medicines.
M
Maya Goburdhun
Director, Navdanya India
Lifetime experience growing food and working with farmers in developing countries. Co-author with Vandana Shiva on 'Pulse of Life'.
Director of Navdanya India, with a lifetime experience of growing food, working with farmers in developing countries, and urging people not to allow industrialised supermarket food to take over from fresh food cooked at home. Co-authored books with Vandana Shiva, including 'Pulse of Life: the Rich Biodiversity of Edible Legume', and organises the mango festivals and Grandmothers University for Navdanya.
Curriculum
What You Will Learn
Principles of regenerative organic farming and agroecology
Seed saving, seed conservation, and biodiversity protection
Soil health, composting, vermicomposting, and the Soil Food Web
Traditional and Vedic farming — Jeevamrit, Panchgavya, natural pest management
Permaculture, biodynamic, and organic farming systems
Nutrition science, food as medicine, and indigenous food systems
Food marketing, organic certification, and community-supported agriculture
Intellectual property rights in seeds and medicines
Climate change, food sovereignty, and the right to health
Daily Life
A Day at the Earth University
8:00
Breakfast
9:00
Morning circle & campus shramdaan
10:00
Hands-on field learning
11:00
Juice break
11:30
Lecture 1
13:00
Lunch
14:30
One-to-one farm design consultations
15:30
Lecture 2
17:00
Tea break
17:30
Lecture 3 — interactive session
19:30
Dinner
20:00
Documentary film screening
Bija Vidyapeeth
Earth University
Navdanya's flagship living learning centre in the Doon Valley — a working organic farm and educational sanctuary inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's Shanti Niketan philosophy.
📍Navdanya Farm, Doon Valley, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India
🌿Associated with Schumacher College, UK
🏡Fully residential — accommodation, all meals, and field materials included
🗓️13 days · 3rd–15th October 2026
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Regenerative organic farming is an approach to agriculture that goes beyond sustainability — it actively restores soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem function while producing nutritious food. It combines traditional farming wisdom with modern agroecological science, emphasizing soil life, seed sovereignty, and community resilience.
Over 13 days you will cover biodiversity and seed saving, soil health and the Soil Food Web, regenerative farming practices, Vedic agriculture, permaculture, biodynamic and organic farming, nutrition science, food as medicine, organic certification, community-supported agriculture, and the politics of food sovereignty and intellectual property rights.
The 2026 program is led by Dr Vandana Shiva alongside eight world-class faculty members: Prof André Leu (Director, Regeneration International), Nadia El-Hage Scialabba (UN FAO / Arizona State University), Dr Sultan Ismail (Soil Ecology), Dr Anna Powar (Nutrition), Dr AV Singh (Regenerative Agronomy), Dr Suresh Kumar (ANNAM Good Food Movement), Dr Mira Shiva (Public Health), and Maya Goburdhun (Director, Navdanya India).
Yes, this is a fully residential program at the Navdanya farm in Dehradun. Accommodation, all meals (organic farm-to-table food), field materials, daily lectures, hands-on farm sessions, documentary film screenings, and the closing certificate are all part of the program experience.
Submit your interest using the registration form below. Our team will send you full details on fees, accommodation, travel guidance, and the application process. Places are limited and allocated on a first-come basis.
All participants who complete the 13-day program receive a certificate from Bija Vidyapeeth — Earth University, Navdanya's flagship learning centre, which is associated with Schumacher College, UK.
Register
Join Us in October 2026
Express your interest and we will send you full program details, fees, and the application form.
📧 Or write directly to earthuniversity@navdanya.net Places are limited
Courses @ Navdanya
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Mango Festival 5th July 2026
(Sun) -
Bhoomi 1st October 2026
(Thursday) -
Return to Earth: A to Z learningReturn to Earth: A to Z learning 03rd October (Sat) - 16th October 2026 Fri)
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Vasundhara - Regenerating India 16th October 2026 (Friday)
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Gandhi and Swadeshi: on Economic Freedom & Self Reliance 13th November 2026(Fri)- 17th November 2026(Tues)
Navdanya signifies ‘nine seeds’—a symbol of protecting biological and cultural diversity—and also the ‘new gift’ that upholds the right to save and share seeds. In an era of ecological loss, seed savers offer the ultimate gift: preserving life, biodiversity, traditional knowledge, culture, and sustainability.
Helpful Resources
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Earth University
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Navdanya Seed Banks
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Soil & Resilience
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WTO on Food Security
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Biodiversity Based Organic Planning
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Navdanya's Training & Research
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Regenerative Agriculture
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Climate Disaster
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Women led Economy
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Contact us