Netherlands-based Growing Futures agroecology program educates 49 children across Europe and the UK; Three research projects selected for conference 2026

Growing Futures from Soil to Sustainable Food Systems: A Youth-Led Hands-on Agroecology, Climate and Sustainable Food Education Programme

Growing Futures from Soil to Sustainable Food Systems is a youth-centred Green education action delivered through the Hands-on Agroecology Program . The program is inspired by the book " Role of Communities in Achieving Sustainable Development " by Prof. Prem Saran Satsangi and Arsh Dhir. The book explores the vital role that communities can play in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring their long-term success. The authors introduce the concept of Holistic Sustainability, which encompasses both internal and external dimensions, illustrated through a case study of Dayalbagh, India - a community that has been practicing sustainable living for over. Hence, we are proud to say that the origin of our initiative is rooted in the century-old, self-sufficient agroecology and precision farming practices of the Dayalbagh community in Agra, India.

Based in the Netherlands and implemented through a wider learning community, the programme currently engages 49 children across Europe and the UK, aged 5-17years : 17 children from Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland, and 32 children from Birmingham and London. The children are supported and encouraged by the holistic knowledge and efforts from mentors, educators and parents.

Motivation : The project responds to a key climate education challenge. Children hear about climate change, food waste, biodiversity loss and sustainability as abstract concepts, but rarely experience how these issues connect to everyday life. This programme makes sustainability tangible .

Objective: Hands-on learning and reflecting on ethical food consumption, thus impacting the Global Climate positively . Children learn by growing food, caring for soil, observing biodiversity, reducing waste, understanding food miles through local and international foods.

Methodology: The curriculum runs from March to November 2026, with final children report-outs planned for December 2026–January 2027. Three course Modules , spread across three months includes: Online knowledge sessions held on Teams

experiments Two full sowing-to-harvest cycles (Agroecology Course Curriculum and Calendar as part of Resources) Module 1 (Mar-May): Soil Is Living—Understanding the Foundation of Life Module 2 (June-Aug): Water, Monsoon & Biodiversity-Growing with Nature Module 3 (Sep-Dec): From Harvest to Plate—Sustainable Food & Responsibility, Evaluation

Online knowledge sessions held on Teams

Two full sowing-to-harvest cycles (Agroecology Course Curriculum and Calendar as part of Resources) Module 1 (Mar-May): Soil Is Living—Understanding the Foundation of Life Module 2 (June-Aug): Water, Monsoon & Biodiversity-Growing with Nature Module 3 (Sep-Dec): From Harvest to Plate—Sustainable Food & Responsibility, Evaluation

Outcomes so far: Agroecology learning, potato planting, tomato, coriander, basil, celery, carrot planting, soil quality testing, compost jar activities and sustainability sessions (Pictures above) Children maintain p hoto journals, growth observation charts, weather logs, crop diaries and reflection notes, while older children may conduct mini research, compare data and interview elders, neighbours, family members Thematic Research: In July-Aug, 5 Research Themes were created and participating children were given opportunity to choose their Theme based on interest. Children spent time on learning the subject with respective Theme mentors: Theme 1: Climate Focus Theme 2: Soil - The Living Earth Theme 3: Biodiversity Theme 4: Sustainable Food Systems Theme 5: Digital Agroecology Children from Theme 4 also well-documented their research. We are glad to share that below 3 Research Projects have been selected for presentations in the 49th (Inter) National Systems Conference 2026, Dayalbagh, Agra, India (21st -23rd September 2026) Towards Sustainable Food Systems - From Farm, to Table to Waste Management: children-led study exploring food sustainability through food miles, the 3Rs and food waste. It compared food miles of 20 everyday items in Pune (India) and Amsterdam, surveyed 44 households in India, and found composting to be a key gap in household sustainability practice Two Logics of Sustainability: A Comparative Permaculture Assessment of Auroville and Dayalbagh, India (Children in India Mentored by UK volunteer) Beyond the Price Tag: Investigating the Ethical Cost of Chocolate (London) (Posters

Absracts as part of Resources)

Agroecology learning, potato planting, tomato, coriander, basil, celery, carrot planting, soil quality testing, compost jar activities and sustainability sessions (Pictures above)

Children maintain p hoto journals, growth observation charts, weather logs, crop diaries and reflection notes, while older children may conduct mini research, compare data and interview elders, neighbours, family members

Thematic Research: In July-Aug, 5 Research Themes were created and participating children were given opportunity to choose their Theme based on interest. Children spent time on learning the subject with respective Theme mentors: Theme 1: Climate Focus Theme 2: Soil - The Living Earth Theme 3: Biodiversity Theme 4: Sustainable Food Systems Theme 5: Digital Agroecology Children from Theme 4 also well-documented their research. We are glad to share that below 3 Research Projects have been selected for presentations in the 49th (Inter) National Systems Conference 2026, Dayalbagh, Agra, India (21st -23rd September 2026) Towards Sustainable Food Systems - From Farm, to Table to Waste Management: children-led study exploring food sustainability through food miles, the 3Rs and food waste. It compared food miles of 20 everyday items in Pune (India) and Amsterdam, surveyed 44 households in India, and found composting to be a key gap in household sustainability practice Two Logics of Sustainability: A Comparative Permaculture Assessment of Auroville and Dayalbagh, India (Children in India Mentored by UK volunteer) Beyond the Price Tag: Investigating the Ethical Cost of Chocolate (London) (Posters

Absracts as part of Resources)

Towards Sustainable Food Systems - From Farm, to Table to Waste Management: children-led study exploring food sustainability through food miles, the 3Rs and food waste. It compared food miles of 20 everyday items in Pune (India) and Amsterdam, surveyed 44 households in India, and found composting to be a key gap in household sustainability practice

Two Logics of Sustainability: A Comparative Permaculture Assessment of Auroville and Dayalbagh, India (Children in India Mentored by UK volunteer)

Beyond the Price Tag: Investigating the Ethical Cost of Chocolate (London) (Posters

Absracts as part of Resources)

Strength of the Project: The project is innovative because it combines agroecology, climate literacy, scientific observation, ethical consumption, family participation and cross-country learning. Children are not passive learners; they become growers, observers, researchers and communicators. The model is also scalable because it can be adapted to homes, balconies, containers, community spaces, gardens and schools. It proves that Food Sustainability begins at home and collectively practiced at Community level, can solve for bigger Climate issues.

Our ambition is to transform climate education from abstract awareness into lived ecological responsibility. Children are developing the knowledge, skills, agency and systems-thinking needed to participate in climate-positive food systems . By end of the 9-month Hands-on Agroecology Program we aim to nurture children as young agroecology ambassadors who can influence their homes, peers and communities. Thus, Envisioning Sustainable Futures.

Evidence to Impact Map 46.52 KB

Abstract Beyond the Price Tag: Investigating the Ethical Cost of Chocolate 80.49 KB

Poster Towards Sustainable Food Systems 1.36 MB

Poster Two Logics of Sustainability: A Comparative Permaculture Assessment 113.91 KB

Role of Communities in Achieving Sustainable Development

century-old, self-sufficient agroecology and precision farming practices of the Dayalbagh community in Agra, India.

Two Logics of Sustainability: A Comparative Permaculture Assessment of Auroville and Dayalbagh, India

(Children in India Mentored by UK volunteer)

Abstract Beyond the Price Tag: Investigating the Ethical Cost of Chocolate

Poster Towards Sustainable Food Systems

Poster Two Logics of Sustainability: A Comparative Permaculture Assessment

Growing Futures from Soil to Sustainable Food Systems: A Youth-Led Hands-on Agroecology, Climate and Sustainable Food Education Programme

2.1 | Education for Climate priority

develop green skills and competences

SDG (03) Good Health and Well-being

SDG (06) Clean Water and Sanitation

SDG (07) Affordable and Clean Energy

SDG (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities

SDG (12) Responsible Consumption and Production

SDG (15) Life On Land

SDG (17) Partnerships for the Goals

2.4 | GreenComp: sustainability competence focus

1.1 Valuing sustainability (Embodying Sustainability Values)

1.3 Promoting nature (Embodying Sustainability Values)

2.1 Systems thinking (Embracing Complexity in Sustainability)

3.1 Futures literacy (Envisioning Sustainable Futures)

4.2 Collective action (Acting for Sustainability)

2.6 | related EU initiative

early childhood education and care

4.1 | community advisory group

4.2 | community peer review

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