Agroecology offers a holistic solution and an outstanding model for an agriculture of the future by integrating ecological principles with socio-economic equity for the benefit of our farmers worldwide, who are among those most affected by climate change, biodiversity loss, soil degradation and continuously rising production costs. A transformation from conventional systems involves the three stages of increasing efficiency, substituting synthetic inputs, and redesigning farms and agricultural production systems at the agroecosystem level to enhance biodiversity and resilience. At the food system level, it reconnects producers and consumers by fostering regional networks based on equity, participation, and justice.

India, with its diverse and mostly small scale farming sytems is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation. This not only through various farmer movements and pilot programs of civil society organizations but strongly through the political will and push towards sustainable agricultural practices as becoming reflected in multiple initiatives of the Government of India. Karnataka stands out as a pioneer in India promoting organic agriculture by constituting an official Organic Farming Policy in the year 2004.

The state’s efforts have set benchmarks in promoting sustainable practices, empowering smallholder farmers, and creating markets for organic and sustainable products. The Support to Agroecological Transformation Processes (SuATI) project, funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany and implemented by the German International Cooperation (GIZ) has further advanced integrating agroecologcial principles into farming systems of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam through multi-level co-ordination with relevant government organisations at national- and state- level. In addition, NABARD is receiving support from GIZ-SuATI to initiate agroecological transformation in twenty Indian states. The GIZ-SuATI project is embedded in a global Agroecology Transformation Program that promotes south-south exchange between governments and practitioners for co-creation of knowledge. Meanwhile, organizations like the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) play a critical role globally by advancing organic farming practices, collaborating with farmers, NGOs, and institutions to promote sustainable food systems through research, knowledge transfer, and advisory services.

Building on this momentum, to strengthen the initiative the Department of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka (GoK), in collaboration with the GIZ-SuATI project, successfully organized the International Conference “Transformation into Organic and Agroecology-based Agriculture in Karnataka” in January 2024. This conference provided valuable insights into the lessons learnt and challenges associated with scaling organic production systems and agroecological approaches in the state. In alignment with its commitment to advancing farmer welfare and expanding market access, the Department of Agriculture, GoK, proudly announces the 6th International Trade Fair 2025: Organics & Millets, a global event dedicated to highlighting the immense potential of organic farming and millet production.

As a key highlight of this trade fair, the International Conference 2025: “Transformation of Agrifood Systems through Agroecology: A Global and Regional Perspective” jointly organized by KSDA, GIZ-SuATI, and FiBL, Switzerland. The conference aims to bring together experts, policymakers, farmers, and industry leaders to discuss and address the challenges, experiences, and innovations driving the agroecological transformation of agrifood systems, both in India and globally. It includes exchange of knowledge and experiences through dialogues, deliberations and presentations by national and international experts. This event will bring together farmers, researchers, policymakers, institutions, and private-sector leaders to share their insights. We hope that the conference will generate new knowledge and stimulate all stakeholders to Take Joint Actions for the Transformation of Agrifood Systems through Agroecology.

The program of the international conference is divided into six sessions and two group activities:

Session 1 will reflect and present innovations from agricultural research and extension to increase efficiency and reduce chemical inputs at the farm level (Transformation level 1) towards more sustainble crop production systems building resilience against the effects of climate change with examples from India and internationally

Session 2 will look into the transformation to organic production at the agroecosystem level by substituting chemical inputs (Transformation level 2). It will provide examples on how this can be achieved through crop and system diversification, importance of landraces and farmers seed networks, bioinputs, and soil health strategies.

Session 3 is planned to discuss the importance and the advances of redesigning agricultural systems at the landscape level towards increasing resilience and self-regulation (Transformation level 3). Different types of agroforestry systems, the introduction of diversity in farm structure and ecologically-based rotations, multiple cropping systems and the integration of livestock are playing here a crucial role. Experencies in scaling agroecological approaches at the landscape level will be presented.

Session 4 will cover and discuss aspects of the transformation at the food system level (Transformation level 4), connecting those who grow our food and those who consume it with special focus on organic markets, consumer awareness and interest, among others.

Session 5 will present and discuss best practices in policies, partnerships and knowlde exchange (Transformation level 5). It focuses on how the agriculture and food systems of the future can help reduce our ecological footprint recognizing that there are limits to growth, and what it really means to live sustainably. How will our agroecology-driven food system look like? What is the role of the society and what are the incentives needed to stimulate these changes? What are the essential changes in policy, support systems, and funding, and choices for producers and consumers?

In Session 6 , the conference will be finalized with concluding remarks from the organizers providing a summary of main lessons learnt and recommendations of the conference for Joint Actions for the Transformation of Agrifood Systems through Agroecology and The Road Map Ahead”.

Activity 1: World Café
Topic: Strengthening Agroecological Systems through the Conservation and Use of Landraces
This activity will foster in-depth discussions and generate actionable insights on how to integrate landraces into agroecological systems, with a focus on enhancing sustainability, resilience, and biodiversity within agricultural landscapes.

Activity 2: Fish bowl
Topic: From Farm to Fork: Inspiring Consumer Action and Growing Organic Opportunities
The session will provide actionable insights into scaling organic markets, enhancing consumer awareness, fostering efficient value chains, and strengthening local food systems, ultimately bridging gaps between producers and consumers for sustainable transformation.