By Manlio Masucci, Navdanya International – Lifegate, 14 November 2018 | Source<\/a><\/p>\n The Indian state of Sikkim is the first to be certified as fully organic, and is now ready to export its model to the rest of the world. Its delegation told us how all this has been possible.<\/em><\/p>\n This journey starts in Sikkim<\/a><\/strong>, a small Indian state in the Himalayas, and ends at the FAO<\/a> in Rome, with an intermediate stop at the Italian Parliament. A journey that promises to go far and last a long time because of the strength of its message and ability to contradict the mantras of the agro-food industry, which has enriched itself by exploiting the environment as well as small and medium-sized local production and citizens\u2019 health: a conversion from traditional to organic<\/a> <\/strong>agriculture isn\u2019t only possible, but a necessary and more profitable solution for local economies.<\/p>\n The delegation from Sikkim, led by Chief minister\u00a0Pawan Kumar Chamling<\/strong>, aims to move beyond\u00a0theory and speculation by exporting a model that has been certified and proven first-hand. As the members of the delegation explain, what is at stake aren\u2019t simply the fortunes of an Indian state but those of the entire planet. The message is loud and clear: an alternative is possible<\/a>, but what we need now is the political will to leave large interests behind for a renewed focus on the needs of people, farmers and our common home.<\/p>\n Sikkim\u2019s organic model, from the Himalayas to Europe<\/strong><\/p>\n The Sikkim delegation\u2019s journey to Europe began in Dehadrun, in the Himalayan state of\u00a0Uttarakhand, known across the world as the home of\u00a0the organic farm and Earth University<\/a> of\u00a0Navdanya<\/a><\/strong>, the organisation founded by Vandana Shiva<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0that has actively contributed to Sikkim\u2019s organic transition.<\/p>\n