About the Himalayan Region

The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region spreads over an area of 3,500 kilometres. Vast areas of the Himalayan Region remain predominantly untouched by the disruptive effects of the Green Revolution. Agriculture in the region is largely traditional and rainfed, making it prone to the vagaries of the weather and highly vulnerable to climate variability and climate change. These have an escalating adverse impact on farming-based livelihoods. The causes of food and nutrition insecurity in the HKH region are however multifaceted and influenced by a range of factors, including – besides high poverty – also natural resource degradation, low level of market development, uncertain food support, and inadequate policy and institutional support. 

Conscious of these conditions and challenges, HKH policymakers have increasingly recognized the need for strengthening sustainable food systems in line with agroecology. While a considerable political commitment has been implemented with varying degrees of intensity, there is the need for a more comprehensive, systemic approach that expands agroecological food systems in the region that also addresses the contradictions in public policy, which often does not sufficiently support or even hinder agroecology to flourish. 

What’s our plan? 

In 2023, we undertook intense preparatory works, including stakeholder mapping, an extensive Roadmap Background Report and call for proposals. Moreover, an expert group named ‘Agroecology Himalayas Task Force’ has been established, with the mandate to inform, co-shape and advance the Himalayan Agroecology Initiative.  

Since its official launch in May 2024, the World Future Council and IFOAM – Organics International have mobilized a diverse network of experienced partners, including renowned organizations such as the Alliance of Bioversity International – CIAT and UNDP in India, Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD) in Nepal, and the Tarayana Foundation in Bhutan. These entities bring extensive expertise in agricultural research, sustainable development, and community empowerment, ensuring that the initiative is rooted in both global best practices and local knowledge. 

Together, the initiative’s team will, amongst others: 

• facilitate the development and finalization of three comprehensive roadmaps for agroecological food systems by Bhutanese, Indian and Nepali stakeholders, by setting up technical and advisory committees, undertaking research as well as organizing participatory consultations; 

• organize a high-level event in 2025 at which the Final Roadmaps are launched and presented with high-level stakeholders; 

• provide a series of capacity-building training sessions and materials for stakeholders on agroecology, food policy processes, etc., following the ToT approach; 

• develop a medium-term strategy for selected key measures of the final Indian Roadmap and facilitate the strategy’s implementation; 

• offer technical assistance, including through knowledge products, policy research and analysis, data analysis, expertise, networking, cross-border exchanges, etc.; 

• monitor and evaluate the work and produce a stocktaking report and event in 2027 with lessons learnt so that future work can built hereon.