In response to the pressing ecological and social challenges of our time, Navdanya International has developed Terrae Vivae: a broad, multifaceted program aimed at regenerating ecological communities. Promoted by Navdanya International, the initiative supports awareness-raising, participatory action, and practical skills for community resilience, and builds upon more than thirty years of experience defending the rights of nature and biodiversity.
Terrae Vivae is rooted in the conviction that humans and nature are inseparably interdependent. The program fosters this ecological awareness within communities, encouraging a transition away from exploitative models toward harmonious, regenerative systems focused on resilience, local knowledge, and interconnectedness.
At its core, Terrae Vivae sees communities as living ecosystems—deeply linked to the natural world and shaped by both local and global factors. Ecological thinking underpins every aspect of resilience and decision-making across societies.
Distinctively, the program unites practical action and spiritual values, combining technical skills and scientific knowledge with care, reciprocity, and shared stewardship of the Earth. Participants are invited to adopt new mindsets and embrace regeneration as a way of life.
Methodologically, Terrae Vivae works through participatory, community-driven processes. Dialogue with farmers, youth, families, schools, and community actors ensures projects respond to local needs, while drawing lessons from global networks and best practices.
Collaboration is horizontal and inclusive. Local groups, educators, institutions, civil society, and policy makers engage as partners. The collective aim: strengthening social and ecological resilience so communities can thrive and adapt amid uncertainty and change.
Terrae Vivae Report I semester 2025
Vision
We envision a society where every individual is deeply connected to their local landscapes and ecosystems, acting as a steward of biodiversity and a champion of regenerative, sustainable food systems. In this vision, food, health, biodiversity, and local communities are seen as spaces of care, collaboration, and interconnectedness—essential for cultivating the ecological awareness needed to imagine and build regenerative futures. Through participatory education, intergenerational collaboration, and the celebration of local knowledge, we strive to nurture resilient, informed communities capable of taking meaningful action for the planet.
Mission
Our mission is to inspire and empower the next generation with the skills, knowledge, and ecological literacy needed to support and advance sustainable, just, and resilient food systems. We foster a deep connection to local places, ecological awareness, and active citizenship by integrating agricultural practices with educational experiences rooted in agroecology, biodiversity, and community-led ecological resilience. Through hands-on learning and direct engagement with the land, we support youth, educators, and communities in becoming engaged leaders of ecological transition and the regeneration of food systems.
Ecoculturae is the program’s dedicated ecoliteracy path, which places experiential, place-based education at the center of community regeneration. Through field workshops, hands-on projects, community gardens, and direct collaboration with practitioners, Ecoculturae builds ecological literacy not only in schools, but throughout the fabric of everyday life, making communities active classrooms for ecological transformation
Valuing local knowledge and global connections, the program supports traditional wisdom, lived experience, and the energy of youth, reinforced by research and international solidarity.
Another core principle is fostering active citizenship and leadership for ecological transition. Terrae Vivae supports concrete actions—local food systems, regenerative pilot plots, community monitoring, and advocacy—to turn knowledge into effective change.
By marrying deep principles with adaptive, community-centered methods, Terrae Vivae aims to nurture living, resilient, empowered communities—capable of responding to current crises and imagining radically regenerative futures.
Responding to globalization and the undermining of local economies, Terrae Vivae champions food democratization—restoring agency to communities and producers. Producing food here is an act of sharing, solidarity, and care. The program’s open, adaptable model encourages similar initiatives worldwide, supporting a global transition toward community-centered regeneration.
Objectives and Target Groups
Terrae Vivae transforms its values into clear goals and purposeful actions, aligned to the diverse communities it serves.
The main goal is to expand ecological literacy and inspire stewardship society-wide. This shared learning approach is tailored to distinct groups—students, youth, teachers, farmers, families, and consumers—with pathways to leadership and practical change.
- Students and youth organizations join hands-on projects—school gardens, field workshops, civic actions—that turn learning into leadership.
- Teachers receive resources and activities to cultivate new ecological perspectives in classrooms.
- Farmers, both experienced and aspiring, are supported through knowledge-sharing, participatory experimentation, and access to robust models like food hubs and community-supported agriculture, empowering them as innovators in their communities.
- Families and consumers engage with ecological action in daily life through workshops, citizen science, and monitoring, forging stronger bonds with local producers.
These participatory networks help develop resilient, cooperative communities where knowledge flows across generations and sectors. Events and global platforms invite consumers, parents, educators, activists, and policymakers to shape the journey toward just and sustainable systems.
The program celebrates local wisdom and lived experience. Through global exchanges and advocacy, Terrae Vivae positions community stories within broader agroecological and climate resilience movements.
By aligning its strategy with the capacities and visions of all target groups, Terrae Vivae weaves a living framework for action and ecological renewal.
Program Areas and Activities
Terrae Vivae achieves its mission through integrated program areas, meeting real community needs and catalyzing systemic change:
- Building Resilient Ecological Communities
Fostering the regeneration of ecological, social, and cultural fabrics, with collaboration between schools, farmers, families, and diverse partners. Initiatives create learning platforms and enable place-based solutions for food and climate challenges. - Ecological Literacy and Experiential Education
Promoting ecological understanding from schools into the wider community with hands-on gardens, nature workshops, farm field trips, and participatory research. Special projects reconnect schools with food origins and biodiversity, linking education with food, climate, and citizenship. - Farmer and Producer Empowerment
Recognizing farmers as land guardians and innovators, supporting them through sharing sessions, peer exchanges, and pilot projects, tailored to varying realities. Programs encourage sustainable practices, new distribution models, and adaptive resilience to climate change. - Family and Community Engagement
Involving families and citizens in community science, monitoring, and workshops—on permaculture, wild plants, and self-sufficiency—strengthening daily ecological responsibility. - Global Networking and Movement Building
Connecting local change with international solidarity through partnerships, festivals, interdisciplinary gatherings, and advocacy. Regional and international forums amplify community voices in biodiversity, food sovereignty, and rights work. - Advocacy, Research, and Communication
Shaping public debate and influencing policy by documenting both threats and solutions. Communications include multilingual reports, articles, and creative media. Advocacy campaigns shift narratives and decision-making, partnering with others to build support for regenerative policies. - Monitoring, Outcomes, and Multiplier Effects
Continually tracking outcomes—youth training, family engagement, increased healthy food demand, and peer-driven knowledge transfer—ensuring that impact is multiplied and networks strengthened. - Expanding Horizons
Adopting living, adaptive models that evolve through ongoing evaluation, feedback, and new partnerships—keeping Terrae Vivae ahead in addressing ecological and social change.
Through this structured, integrated approach, Terrae Vivae translates its core philosophy into practical, sustained impact—empowering communities as custodians of a living, regenerative planet.
Also read:
Terrae Vivae: Regenerating Communities through Agroecological Action