Vandana Shiva

Vandana Shiva is an Indian environmental activist and author. She was born in Dehradun, India, in 1952. She fights for the rights of farmers and the protection of seeds. She believes that nature should be protected from large corporations.

Early Life

Shiva grew up in the Himalayan forests of India. Her father was a forest ranger. She studied physics and earned a PhD in philosophy. She became concerned about the environment when she saw forests being destroyed and farmers losing control of their seeds.

Environmental Work

Shiva started Navdanya, an organization that saves and shares traditional seeds. She argues that farmers should have the right to save and plant their own seeds. She has written many books about food, farming, and the environment. She has been called one of the most important environmental thinkers in the world.

Fun Facts

• Vandana Shiva's organization Navdanya has saved over 3,000 varieties of rice seeds.
• She was named one of the most influential women in the world by The Guardian.
• She has written over 20 books about food and the environment.

Did You Know?

Vandana Shiva started seed banks across India where farmers can share traditional seeds for free. She believes that seeds are a shared treasure that should not be owned by any company.