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 residency places you directly on a working organic farm, learning by doing alongside farmers and international experts.
Associated with Schumacher College, UK, Bija Vidyapeeth offers one of the most comprehensive immersive programs in regenerative agriculture available anywhere in the world.
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.
Read full note ↓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.
Read full note ↓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.
Read full note ↓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.
Read full note ↓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'.
Read full note ↓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.
Read full note ↓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'.
Read full note ↓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.
Read full note ↓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.
Read full note ↓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
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.
Express your interest and we will send you full program details, fees, and the application form.
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.
