OUR 2024 JOURNEY
In 2024, Navdanya International has continued to champion the defense of biodiversity, the fight against the growing dominance of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and industrial agriculture, and the building of resilient, sustainable communities.
As global biodiversity faces dire decline, we remained steadfast against the financialization and commodification of nature, exposing schemes like biodiversity credits and Nature Asset Companies.
Through the “Biodiversity is Life, Not an Asset Class” campaign, Navdanya called for an end to these market-based threats, advocating instead for community-led conservation efforts that honor the intrinsic value of ecosystems and indigenous knowledge. Our reports, fact sheets, and resources such as the illustrated booklet, Biodiversity is Not for Sale, have empowered grassroots movements and local communities to resist the growing pressure to commodify the natural world. We have strengthened our call with a webinar featuring global experts and a vibrant international conversation on the need to prioritize ecological justice over profit-driven agendas. These actions culminated in the Vasundhara Festival, where communities from around the world united in celebration and reflection on the interconnectedness of biodiversity and the rights of nature.
Parallel to these efforts, Navdanya International has fought against the insidious rise of GMO imperialism. In Mexico, we launched a campaign to resist the imposition of genetically modified corn and glyphosate, pivotal to defending food sovereignty and the sacred relationship that indigenous communities have with maize. From the preparation of events in Mexico to the strategic in-person meetings with movements across Latin America, Navdanya has helped form strong alliances against the growing threat of bio- imperialism, which seeks to monopolize the global food system. Our participation in seminars, roundtable discussions, and public events throughout 2024 has underscored the importance of indigenous seed freedom, the preservation of biodiversity in centers of origin, and the need for local food sovereignty. This coalition-building process has positioned Mexico and the broader Latin American region at the heart of global resistance against GMO imposition and the corporate takeover of agriculture.
At the same time, our efforts to create resilient communities through ecological education have flourished in the local context of Bracciano, Italy. Through the Terrae Vivae program, we have engaged youth, farmers, educators, and community members in hands-on learning about agroecology, biodiversity conservation, and the interconnections between cultural sustainability and ecological health. Building on earlier successes, our program has expanded in 2024 to reach even more beneficiaries. This educational program is not merely about imparting knowledge—it is a call to action. By engaging with the community and empowering local participants, we are not only teaching sustainable practices but aiming at creating a resilient local network capable of resisting the encroachment of industrial agriculture and the exploitation of natural resources.
In 2024, the convergence of our work on biodiversity, GMO resistance, and community resilience has reinforced the idea that these struggles are not isolated but deeply interconnected. The protection of biodiversity cannot be separated from the fight for food sovereignty, nor can the creation of resilient communities be disconnected from the need to resist corporate-driven environmental destruction. Our work in each of these areas is interwoven, as we recognize that the health of our ecosystems, the preservation of traditional agricultural knowledge, and the empowerment of local communities are all essential for a sustainable, just future.