ABOUT US
NESFAS, short for the North East Society for Agroecology Support (formerly known as North East Slow Food And Agrobiodiversity Society), was established in 2012 as a platform dedicated to revitalizing, safeguarding, and promoting Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems (IPFS) while upholding their cultural integrity. Functioning as an indigenous grassroots organization primarily led by local youth, NESFAS works closely with indigenous communities in Meghalaya and Nagaland, recognizing and emphasizing the pivotal role of women as guardians of biodiversity, food, land, people, and nutrition. NESFAS is committed to empowering young individuals, acknowledging them as agents of positive change within their communities, essential for promoting IPFS. The organization’s ethos is deeply rooted in Indigenous Peoples’ values of sharing, caring, and consensus building.
BACKGROUND
NESFAS emerged as an outcome of collaborative activities between the Indigenous Partnership for Agrobiodiversity and Food Sovereignty (TIP) and Slow Food International. While Slow Food spotlights the importance of pleasure through good, clean and fair food, going hand in hand with our responsibility towards the environment, in its stead, TIP reaffirms the importance of local food systems and the age-old role of Indigenous Peoples as guardians of agrobiodiversity, a role that is intrinsically linked to their cultural identity and their right to food sovereignty, food and nutritional security. To this end, NESFAS endeavours to join hands and converge its activities with other likeminded individuals, institutions, government, other NGOs, etc., for the overall benefit, conservation and development of the indigenous communities in the North East of India.
Despite constituting a small percentage of the global population, Indigenous Peoples are recognized as the custodians of 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity. However, many of these groups face significant challenges. While the North East of India is renowned for its biodiversity, ranking as one of the country’s four biodiversity hotspots, several states in the region struggle with nutrition and dietary deficiencies. Indigenous communities in this region traditionally rely on their indigenous food systems, which are based on the area’s rich biodiversity, encompassing approximately 67% of India’s total biodiversity. NESFAS’ work addresses various challenges, including food security and sovereignty, health and nutrition, sustainable local livelihoods, and green energy. The organization is committed to collaborating with communities, individuals, institutions, government bodies, and other NGOs to benefit, conserve, and develop indigenous communities in the North East of India.
VISION
Thriving Villages of North East India demonstrate the collective power of Indigenous Peoples’ communities, their values, food systems and their nature-based world view to transform the global landscapes and well being.
MISSION
- Revitalise Indigenous Value Systems
- Harness unique skills of Indigenous Peoples and blend modern ideas
- Collective decision making and strengthen the voice of Indigenous Peoples
- Revive, defend and promote Indigenous Peoples’ food systems as gamechangers.
OUR THEORY OF CHANGE
