By Manlio Masucci – Navdanya International – GATE, Il portale dell’Unione Buddhista Italiana | Source
On January 28, 2025, Terrae Vivae, the School of Diffused Agroecology designed by Navdanya International with the support of the Ecology Agenda of the Italian Buddhist Union, kicked off. The project seeks to cultivate ecoliteracy by first engaging young people and gradually involving teachers, farmers, and public administrators. Through a combination of theory and hands-on experience, it provides communities with meaningful training on key environmental issues. The project will equip communities with advocacy tools for ecological stewardship of both public and private resources by fostering knowledge exchange and shared experiences. It will also establish a learning network that connects local communities with global initiatives. Designed as an innovative educational program, it seeks to address today’s pressing environmental and social challenges by exploring solutions that are both locally rooted and globally relevant. The project has been inspired by the principles of Navdanya’s Earth University in India founded by Vandana Shiva.
In a global context dominated by a monopolistic industrial paradigm based on the intensive use of pesticides, the imposition of GMOs and artificial and ultra-processed food, agrarian biodiversity, food sovereignty and the resilience of local communities are at serious risk. Grounded in scientific research and guided by leading experts, Terrae Vivae seeks to demonstrate—both theoretically and practically—that an alternative environmental paradigm is possible. The agroecological-regenerative model not only offers a sustainable approach but also proves to be more economically viable. Biologists, agronomists, physicians, nutritionists, geneticists, agricultural entrepreneurs, and journalists will lead courses at a school dedicated to higher education in this field.
Terrae Vivae is the natural evolution of the Biodiversity is Life project, funded by the 8×1000 of the Italian Buddhist Union, and in parallel with other initiatives carried out in conjunction with the Ecology Agenda of the Italian Buddhist Union over the past three years. This ambitious effort has involved hundreds of students in educational journeys aimed at promoting full ecological awareness. A tangible proof of this continuity is the more than 40 young people from the Lake Bracciano area, in the province of Rome, who, after participating in previous projects, decided to take part in the first course.
The school’s medium-term goal is to empower citizens with the knowledge to understand global challenges and take meaningful action at the local level. The program seeks to drive cultural and social change by weaving together knowledge and skills that strengthen agroecology. By reinforcing the connection between culture, environment, and community, it fosters a shift toward local and sustainable food systems. Participants develop both critical and technical skills to tackle environmental challenges, creating a multiplier effect that amplifies long-term cultural and social change.
Terrae Vivae’s educational model embraces a holistic approach, blending technical expertise with a deep understanding of the political, social, and cultural dimensions of ecology—all within a global and interconnected framework. Concept modules explore key topics such as food systems at local and global levels, climate change impacts, food sovereignty, biodiversity, and the rights of nature, while also equipping participants with tools for democratic engagement and active citizenship. Hands-on workshops cover horticulture, crop rotation, and wild herb identification, alongside sustainable food production techniques like cheesemaking, canning, and baking with ancient grains. Most classes will be held at local agroecological farms, allowing participants to engage directly with ecosystems and take part in farmers’ activities.
As announced during the event held on May 30, 2024 at Cinema Troisi in Rome, in the presence of Vandana Shiva and Silvia Francescon, head of UBI’s ecology agenda, Navdanya International aims at expanding the reach of the School by scaling up the program to regional, national and international levels. The production and dissemination of educational and multimedia materials is designed to further expand the project’s reach and encourage replicability of the training model. In the long term, Terrae Vivae envisions a thriving network of interconnected ecological communities, empowered to tackle environmental challenges through collaboration, shared wisdom, and collective action. By fostering deep connections and a culture of reciprocity, the project aims to inspire a future where communities work together to regenerate the land, protect biodiversity, and build resilient, sustainable, agroecology-based food systems.
Reference:
Ecoculturae – Regenerating Ecological Communities
Ecoculturae is Navdanya International’s educational program that promotes ecological knowledge and agroecology to form resilient communities. Through educational pathways and field experiences, it engages students, teachers and citizens to strengthen the link between biodiversity, culture and food systems, with education rooted in territories and geared toward sustainability.