At the end of September, Navdanya International participated in “Abitare la campagna e la montagna” (“Living the Countryside and the Mountains”), an international meeting dedicated to Biodistricts, a growing movement that connects farmers, citizens, and institutions to promote ecological transition and territorial regeneration.

The meeting, promoted by the Bio-District of the Bolognese Apennines in collaboration with the Bio-Districts of Emilia-Romagna and the Association for Biodynamic Agriculture, brought together delegations from across Italy — Lazio, Puglia, Veneto (Dolomiti Bellunesi), Sicily (Monti Iblei), Basilicata, and Piedmont — as well as from France, Germany, and Ireland, reflecting a network that continues to expand and consolidate across Europe.

The event was an opportunity to listen, exchange experiences, and identify new pathways for collaboration, reflecting our ongoing effort to link local action with global transformation.

From Local Practices to Public Policy

As part of our Local to Global strategy, Navdanya International works to ensure that the principles of Earth Democracy and agroecology translate into real practices within communities — and into supportive public policies.

During the meeting, it became clear that the landscape of Biodistricts is evolving. Each context brings unique challenges — from governance and participation to the coherence between ecological principles and economic models. Navdanya International contributed by emphasizing the need for systemic coordination, long-term vision, and alignment between grassroots initiatives and institutional frameworks.

Biodistricts as Engines of Regeneration

Biodistricts can become concrete instruments to restore territories, foster food sovereignty, and reconnect local economies with ecological resilience. Their role is not only to support sustainable production, but also to reshape relationships between land, communities, and governance — embodying the core of Navdanya International’s regenerative vision.

Through our participation, we contributed to reflections on how education, agroecological transition, and community empowerment can strengthen the social and cultural dimensions of Biodistricts. Our experience with Terrae Vivae and Ecoculturae demonstrates how land-based learning and participatory approaches can nurture both ecological awareness and collective responsibility.

Looking Ahead

This exchange reinforced the importance of creating shared spaces of dialogue between different Biodistricts — at the local, national, and international level — to build coherence, solidarity, and policy impact.

Navdanya International will continue to contribute to this process, working to bridge communities and institutions, and to ensure that Biodistricts remain living laboratories of ecological regeneration — places where the restoration of ecosystems goes hand in hand with the renewal of culture, economy, and democracy.