Himalayan Consultations Shape the Future of Sustainable Food Systems
As the world celebrates World Food Day on 16 October, the Himalayan Agroecology Initiative (HAI) has made significant strides in promoting sustainable food systems in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) through a series of critical consultations aimed at developing agroecology roadmaps for Bhutan, India, and Nepal. This initiative seeks to align with this year’s World Food Day theme by fostering food systems that prioritize availability, access, and affordability for a better life and future. HAI is positioning agroecology as a solution to the interlinked crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity.
In recent months, consultations across four Indian Himalayan states—Nagaland, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh—are bringing together diverse stakeholders, including government representatives, agricultural experts, academics, the private sector, and civil society. The discussions centered on how agroecology can provide a comprehensive, multifaceted response to the region’s challenges. As part of the roadmap development process, these consultations offer critical insights into regional priorities, challenges, opportunities, and explored ways to promote agroecological practices that can benefit local communities.
The Himalayan region, with its unique ecosystems and traditional farming systems, serves as a living model of agroecology. The consultations underscore the need for greater collaboration between India, Nepal, and Bhutan to share lessons learned, particularly in the realm of policy. Such cooperation will accelerate the shift toward resilient and sustainable agriculture, reinforcing the importance of agroecology in addressing food security and environmental sustainability in the region.
World Food Day 2024 is a powerful reminder that food systems must be transformed to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. The Himalayan Agroecology Initiative is at the forefront of this transformation, with its efforts to develop agroecology roadmaps paving the way for a sustainable future in the Himalayas and beyond.
Main Conclusions from the Consultation in India
The consultation in Shillong emphasized the critical role of agroecology in addressing socio-cultural and ecological crises. Stakeholders from government, academia, NGOs, and industry discussed the need for location-specific strategies to improve livelihoods, preserve biodiversity, and secure food. Key points included the importance of multistakeholder collaboration, knowledge sharing, and aligning policy, research, and farmer training to advance sustainable agriculture in Meghalaya.
In Kohima, stakeholders highlighted agroecology’s role in building sustainable food systems and improving farmers' livelihoods in the face of environmental challenges. Key discussions included soil biodiversity, natural resource management, and agroecological practices like Jhum cultivation. The consultation offered timely insights for the state’s agriculture policy, with the government expressing strong support for developing a sustainable agricultural roadmap.
Over 175 participants gathered in Shimla to discuss aligning current policies and practices with sustainable food systems. The workshop focused on safeguarding natural resources, reducing pesticide use, and addressing environmental challenges. Participants called for stronger laws on pesticide control, a shift to natural farming, and better alignment of agricultural policies with environmental sustainability to protect future generations and farming communities.
The consultation in Uttarakhand, with 98 participants, focused on conserving agricultural biodiversity and improving farmers' livelihoods. Discussions covered challenges such as soil erosion, market access, and rising production costs. Participants stressed the need for enhanced agricultural policies, especially in processing and marketing hill-based products, while addressing migration, fallow land, and threats to local agrobiodiversity from changing food habits and environmental degradation.
The insights gathered from these state consultations in India will soon be shared with the Indian Technical Committee, responsible for drafting the agroecology roadmap. A national consultation is planned for early 2025. Meanwhile, consultations will also take place in Bhutan at the district level (focusing on Chukha, Dagana, and Tsirang) and in Nepal at the provincial level (focusing on Karnali and Gandaki), with national discussions to follow, further extending the initiative's influence across the Himalayan region. As the Himalayan Agroecology Initiative gains momentum, its efforts are playing a key role in advancing global sustainable food systems and tackling food insecurity.
How You Can Use This Information?
You can use these findings to better understand the key issues and challenges in promoting agroecology and apply them to your work in sustainable agriculture, policy development, or advocacy. Sharing these insights with your networks can help raise awareness and encourage engagement in agroecological practices, benefiting both local and global food systems.
To spread the word about the Himalayan Agroecology Initiative, you can utilize several resources: visit our Trello Communication Board for tools and updates, explore the comprehensive One-Pager that outlines the initiative, and check the websites of the World Future Council and IFOAM – Organics International for more detailed information on the project. These tools will help you engage your networks and promote awareness of sustainable agricultural practices in the region.
The Himalayan Agroecology Initiative (HAI) is a strategic effort aimed at fostering sustainable food systems in India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Working closely with governments and a broad range of stakeholders, HAI focuses on developing agroecological roadmaps that empower farmers and key players to benefit from public policies supporting organic agriculture, food processing, and consumption. Partnering with organizations like the World Future Council, IFOAM – Organics International, UNDP India, LI-BIRD in Nepal, and the Tarayana Foundation in Bhutan, HAI plans to launch these roadmaps at a high-level conference in 2025. This initiative is part of the German-Indian Lighthouse Initiative and is funded by BMZ and IFAD. Renowned organizations are paving the way for this ambitious undertaking at the national level, including the Alliance of Bioversity International-CIAT and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in India, Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD) in Nepal and the Tarayana Foundation in Bhutan.
Resources:
- Discover our communication board with tools and relevant information on the HAI
- See our One-Pager on this initiative
- Consult WFC’s website and IFOAM – Organics International