What they do
Navdanya is Vandana Shiva's seed sovereignty movement in India. They maintain 150+ community seed banks preserving indigenous crop varieties, train farmers in biodiverse organic farming, and advocate against seed patents and genetic modification. The network spans 22 Indian states and has trained over 900,000 farmers.
Why they matter
Navdanya fights for the foundation of food sovereignty: the right of farmers to save, share, and plant seeds without corporate permission. In a world where a handful of agrochemical companies control the majority of commercial seed supplies, Navdanya's 150+ community seed banks preserve the genetic diversity that industrial agriculture systematically eliminates. This diversity is not just cultural heritage; it is climate resilience. Diverse crop varieties adapted to local conditions are the best insurance against climate volatility.
How to support
Visit Navdanya's Biodiversity Conservation Farm in Dehradun, India. Support their seed bank network through donations. Purchase from their organic food brand. Attend their Earth University courses.
Key project to explore
The 150+ community seed banks preserve thousands of indigenous rice, wheat, millet, and vegetable varieties, maintaining the genetic diversity that industrial monoculture agriculture systematically erodes.