Navdanya’s 2026 year’s courses offer a powerful return to learning grounded in truth, non-violence, women’s leadership, biodiversity, water justice, regenerative farming. In 1995, Dr. Vandana Shiva founded Bija Vidyapeeth—Navdanya’s Earth University—transforming an old eucalyptus orchard in the Doon Valley in Dehradun, India, into a thriving 47-acre organic farm, seed bank, and biodiversity research center. Today it stands as a lush living classroom where farmers, students, educators, and global thought leaders come to study organic farming and agroecology. For more information email: earthuniversity@navdanya.net
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Jan 30-Feb 3, 2026
GANDHI LIVES: Timeless Ideas Of Truth & Non-Violence
Gandhi was assassinated on 30th January 1948, but his ideas, spirit are alive even today. Dr Vandana Shiva will be leading the course along with Delhi University’s Professor Apoorvanand Jha. Dr Shiva will be focusing on how she has used Gandhian ideas in her work of seed saving and celebrating traditional knowledge. Prof Apoorvanand will be seeing Gandhi through a critical lens where he is not just idolizing Gandhi, but, how we can use Gandhi in creating a friendship and fight for the rights of every being.
March 6-8, 2026
ECO-FEMINISM: Women, and Climate Resilience, Regenerating Forgotten Foods
One of the much-awaited learning programs led by Dr Vandana Shiva from her lifelong experience and work on conserving biodiversity, fighting for all life, she will be focusing on Women, and Climate Resilience. On the last day of the program, 8th of March, which is also International Women’s Day, there will be a celebration called Diverse Women for Diversity. Mahila Anna Swaraj (Women for Food Sovereignty) will also join, following the year’s theme on connected human and planetary health, showcasing how traditional food can be used to combat climate chaos and heal our health naturally.
March 20-22, 2026
CELEBRATING WATER DAY: Regenerating Water through Regenerative Farming
World Water Day is on 22nd March, this program will take us deep into the practices and methods of conserving water through Regenerative Agriculture. We will be sharing Navdanya Biodiversity Farm water table case study of increased water table level by 70 ft. Participants will be visiting Rishikesh and witness the magic of water to build a deeper connection with this important element of life. This course will be led by Dr. Vandana Shiva, and the Navdanya team, who hold expertise in farming methods that can help improve water issues.
April 18-22, 2026
EARTH DEMOCRACY
Earth Democracy connects the particular to the universal, the diverse to the common, the local to the global. It is the core of the Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the earth family)- a community of all beings supported by the earth. Earth Democracy will be led by Dr Vandana Shiva, along with focusing on the relationships of all beings, this year she will also be focusing on the Union Carbide Bhopal Gas Tragedy. She will be demonstrating the link of this tragedy with agriculture, chemicals, and how, in contemporary times, Earth Democracy can be used as it is rooted in the idea of care in contrast to the chaos created by the greed economy.
Oct 1-16, 2026
RETURN TO EARTH: A – Z of Biodiversity, Agroecology, & Regenerative Organic Farming
On October 1st, A to Z program starts in Delhi, for a day of Navdanya’s annual Bhoomi (Earth)- Multifaith & Earth Science celebration, with women farmers from various states across India sharing traditional knowledge & wisdom. On the 3rd to the 16th October, the course will be at Earth University (Bija Vidyapeeth), on the Navdanya Biodiversity Farm in Dehradun, India. Here, a different aspect of soil, seed, ecosystem regeneration, and health will be taught by experts in their field. On the 16th of October, course attendees get to participate in Navdanya’s annual Vasundhara festival on the farm, where music, celebration, and women from around India will be preparing varieties of food from their region to demonstrate how food and plants can heal health. A to Z will be led by: Dr Vandana Shiva, Maya Goburdhun, Dr AV Singh, Dr Sultan Ismail, Dr Andre Leu, Nadia El-Hage Scialabba, Dr Anna Powar, Dr Suresh Kumar, Dr Mira Shiva.
Nov 13-17, 2026
GANDHI AND SWADESHI: On Economic Freedom & Self-Reliance
This year’s learning theme will be Swadeshi a Gandhian concept which means Self Rule, and how Swadeshi can be utilized for economic freedom of the self, the economies of life, and all living beings. This course will be led by Dr Vandana Shiva, where she will be teaching on the shared relationships of women, farming, livelihood, health, and agriculture. Prof. Apoorvanand Jha from the University of Delhi will be leading a participatory session on our expectations from Gandhi, and how we can understand and utilize this in our own lives for the betterment of the interconnectedness of living with all beings.
