The 2025–26 batch of the Agroecology for Food Systems Transformation (AE FST 2026) certificate course ran from 22 December 2025 to 20 March 2026 and offered a 13-week hybrid learning experience. Organised by Welthungerhilfe India and Sambhaav Trust, and accredited by The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU), the course combined 9 weeks of online modules with 4 weeks of immersive fieldwork, delivered in partnership with civil society organisations and enterprises across India.
The curriculum covered foundational concepts in agroecology, ecological practices, food systems and policy, field-based research, livelihoods, and communication. Over 80 live sessions were delivered by more than 30 facilitators representing NGOs, academia, government, and independent research and practice. Key module leads included Anshuman Das, Ashis Panda, Malini Mukherjee, Prof. Richa Kumar, Dr AR Vasavi, Sanjib Dey, Sanchari Mukhopadhyay, Soumik Banerjee, Madhu Reddy, Nitya Ghotge, Prof. Dinesh Abrol, Vishala Padmanabhan, and others.
Participants represented a wide range of ages and professional backgrounds, coming from 10 states and union territories, and included early-career entrants, experienced practitioners, and professionals from NGOs, academic institutions, farmer-run enterprises, and state government. The cohort reflected a strong gender balance and regional diversity, with participants from Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
A network of partner organisations and enterprises across India enabled field immersion and hands-on learning. These partnerships provided invaluable real-world exposure to diverse agroecological landscapes and community-driven initiatives. Participants undertook their four-week fieldwork at one of the following:
- ADISIL Trust (Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu)
- Lok Chetna Manch (Ranikhet, Almora, Uttarakhand)
- Pandhari (Velhe, Pune, Maharashtra)
- Paushtik Life (Raiganj, West Bengal
- PRAVAH (Deogarh, Jharkhand)
- Pragati (Koraput, Odisha)
- Sambhaav Trust (Dungarpur and Jaisalmer, Rajasthan)
- SeSTA (Guwahati, Assam) SEWA (Kolkata, West Bengal)
- WILD (Simultala, Bihar)
Designed to encourage cross-learning, the program fostered dynamic exchanges among students and facilitators, and many participants remain connected with each other and course partners even after completion. This holistic approach has helped nurture a new network of agroecology practitioners ready to drive transformation in diverse contexts.