A two-day National Workshop on “Agroecological Transformation of Food Systems” was successfully organized on 14–15 July 2026 at the State Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institute (SAMETI), Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, Narendrapur, West Bengal, under the project “Assessment of Integrated Agroecological Interventions towards Improved Food Security, Nutrition, and Sustainable Livelihoods in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India,” funded by SWISSAID India, with Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (RKMVERI), Narendrapur as the research partner. The workshop was jointly organized by RKMVERI and DRCSC, with Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and SWISSAID India serving as Knowledge Partners. The event brought together around 100 participants from eight states, including West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam, and Himachal Pradesh, representing researchers, farmers, farmer organizations, civil society organizations, policymakers, government officials, and market actors. Through technical sessions, keynote lectures, panel discussions, farmer interactions, and policy dialogues, the workshop deliberated on agroecology, natural and organic farming, food systems transformation, agrobiodiversity conservation, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, women’s leadership, climate-resilient farming, inclusive market development, and policy and governance. The workshop also showcased successful initiatives and research findings from different regions of India, including the impact assessment of agroecological interventions under the CROPS4HD project, while promoting cross-learning among stakeholders. The deliberations culminated in a set of evidence-based recommendations emphasizing the mainstreaming of agroecology into agricultural policies, strengthening indigenous seed systems, empowering women farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations, improving market linkages, promoting climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and fostering collaborative action among research institutions, governments, civil society organizations, and farming communities to advance sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food systems.
