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Workshops & Keynotes
Conference Year: 2020
Select a track below or feel free to download our 1-page PDF conference schedule https://eco-farm.org/sites/default/files/EcoFarm%202020%201-page%20confe...
Wednesday
Wednesday 
Session: Keynote | 8:00 pm
Visionaries in the Field: Weaving Together Ecology and Equity
In the spirit of this year’s conference theme of "20/20 Vision," we are hosting visionaries in the...
Presenter(s): Dr. Jonathan Lundgren, Leah Penniman
Thursday
Thursday Session: A | 8:30 am
Stewarding Our Rangelands with Livestock
Learn the importance of livestock integration on our landscapes to support a thriving ecosystem,...
Presenter(s): Mark Biaggi, Rodrigo Sierra Corona
Track:
Livestock, Ranching, Regenerative Agriculture
The Organic No-Till Farming Revolution, Part I: Advantages of No-Till Farmi...
Much of the interest in no-till farming comes from a desire to avoid the negative effects of...
Presenter(s): Andrew Mefferd, Michael Whamond
Track:
Regenerative Agriculture, Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
Cover Crop Selection Tips
More and more information is accumulating about which cover crops are most beneficial in certain...
Presenter(s): John Bauer, Eric Brennan, Chuck Cambra
Track:
Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
A Permaculture Collaborative: City Repair Meets Social Forestry
City Repair has helped folks in urban neighborhoods reclaim public spaces with art and celebration...
Presenter(s): Mark Lakeman, Hazel aka Tom Ward
Track:
Permaculture, Gardening, Education
Doctor, Destroyer, Diviner, Delighter: Women & Sacred Plants
The image of the woman in her garden is an archetype that crosses all time and cultures. The...
Presenter(s): Mariavittoria Mangini
Track:
Food, Health, Community, Women in Food & Agriculture
Women-Owned and Open for Business
In this session we’ll hear from three women who own and operate their businesses: a grower, a...
Presenter(s): Karen Salinger, Alison Bailey Vercruysse, Chris Laughlin
Track:
Equity, Social Justice, Food Sovereignty, Women in Food & Agriculture
Discussion Group: Farmer Experiences with Soil Health
This discussion group will offer the opportunity for farmers to share their experiences with soil...
Presenter(s): Joanna Ory
Track:
Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
The Real Dirt on Pesticides and Bee Deaths
How did America’s farms change from occasional pesticide use to a poison-drenched landscape? How...
Presenter(s): Dr. Jonathan Lundgren, Stacy Malkan, Sainath Suryanarayanan
Track:
Pests, Beneficials, Ecosystems
How Can you Mend a Broken Organic Program?
Agreement is growing that the National Organic Program needs fixing. Animal welfare, import fraud,...
Presenter(s): Dave Chapman, Anne Ross
Track:
Organics, Policy
Farmer-Inspired Research
Whole-farm organic systems are hard to study scientifically, but some farmers and researchers are...
Presenter(s): Doug O'Brien, Jessica Shade
Track:
Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
History of California Native Peoples and Good Allyship
It is essential to understand the history of the land and people of California, since it has been...
Presenter(s): Gregg Castro, Kanyon Sayers-Roods
Track:
History
How to Make and Use a Farm Financial Budget
A farm business without a budget is like a car without a steering wheel. Having a farm budget can...
Presenter(s): Alan Haight
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, Farm Business, Labor, Land
Thursday Session: B | 10:30 am
Foliar Feeding for Fantastic Fennel (and Other Crops)
Although foliar feeding has been in practice for more than 50 years, much new research and...
Presenter(s): Stephen Pavich, Andrew Pedersen
Track:
Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
Setting Beginning Organic Farmers Up for Success
As a beginning organic farmer, it can be challenging to identify which organic management...
Presenter(s): Haley Baron, Isabelle Jenniches, Sam Thorp
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
The Organic No-Till Farming Revolution, Part II: How to Farm No-Till on a S...
While working on a no-till research farm 15 years ago, Andrew Mefferd realized that the method he...
Presenter(s): Andrew Mefford, Michael Whamond
Track:
Regenerative Agriculture, Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
Big Fish Eat Little Fish: Organic Survival in an Evolving Supplier Market
Very few first-generation organic processors, retailers, and wholesalers have escaped the American...
Presenter(s): Brenna Davis, Elizabeth Nardi, Bob Quinn
Track:
Marketing, Retail, Wholesale
Tending the Wild & Our Garden
Traditional farming and food gathering was dependent on whole landscapes for sustenance— not just...
Presenter(s): Michael Foley, Carin Fortin, Corine Pearce
Track:
Permaculture, Gardening, Education
Health Care Revolution: Prescribing Organic Food as Medicine!
There’s a revolution taking place that could change the way healthcare works in the United States...
Presenter(s): Cathryn Couch, Courtney Crenshaw, Dr. Rita Nguyen
Track:
Food, Health, Community
CANCELLED - Discussion Group: Mentor Meet-Up
Have you been searching for that hard-won wisdom to take your farming, gardening, or ag-related...
Presenter(s): Speakers TBD
Track:
Food, Health, Community
Beyond Food Sovereignty in Indian Country: Growing Restoration Plants
Last year at the EcoFam Conference the Shingle Springs Tribe talked about their experience of...
Presenter(s): Gaylene Kinzy, Darin Koupal, Samantha Sproull
Track:
Equity, Social Justice, Food Sovereignty
Seen But Not Heard: Women of Color in Agriculture
This workshop will highlight some of the many challenges faced by women of color in agriculture. As...
Presenter(s): Robina Bhatti, Josefina Lara
Track:
Equity, Social Justice, Food Sovereignty, Women in Food & Agriculture
Coming to Terms with Vineyard Mealybug in an Organic System
Economic losses from vineyard mealybug have dramatically increased in this past decade. The...
Presenter(s): Erin Amaral, Kent Daane
Track:
Pests, Beneficials, Ecosystems
Discussion Group: The Real Dirt on Pesticides & Bee Deaths
This discussion session builds off the workshop session just prior on the same subject, and will be...
Presenter(s): Dr. Jonathan Lundgren, Stacy Malkan, Sainath Suryanarayanan
Track:
Pests, Beneficials, Ecosystems
Safeguarding Organic From Fraud
The global organic market is now almost $90 billion annually, with the U.S. organic market alone...
Presenter(s): Laura Batcha, Natalie Krout-Greenberg, Jenny Tucker
Track:
Organics, Policy
Discussion Group: California Food and Farming Policy for Farmers
Our third annual roundtable about food and farming policy in California will give us another chance...
Presenter(s): Peter Ruddock
Track:
Organics, Policy
Farm and Ranch Business Transition and Succession Readiness
This is an interactive session structured around a tool to evaluate what structures and procedures...
Presenter(s): Poppy Davis, Liya Schwartzman
Track:
Farm Business, Labor, Land
Thursday Session: Keynote | 1:30 pm
The Past, Present, and Future of Organic
Bob Quinn Robert “Bob” Quinn is a progressive leader in promoting organic and sustainable...
Presenter(s): Bob Quinn
Thursday Session: C | 3:30 pm
Managing the Crisis in Farm Labor Availability
California farm operators have long depended on a steady and relatively affordable farm-labor...
Presenter(s): Ernie Farley, Matt Rogers
Track:
Farm Business, Labor, Land
Women in Regenerative Agriculture
Women are seldom at the forefront of farming and ranching, yet they are often the backbone of an...
Presenter(s): Cory Carmen, Julie Morris, Jenya Schneider
Track:
Livestock, Ranching, Regenerative Agriculture, Women in Food & Agriculture
Mujeres Desarrollando Economías Locales Usando Agroecología en Mesoamérica...
Bienvenida a nuestra delegación 2020 visitante de Nicaragua y México: Las pequeñas empresas de...
Presenter(s): Dinora García Díaz, Denisse García Moreno, Mirna Blandón Lumbí, Gisela Illescas Palma, Briseida Venegas Ramos, Darling Campo Rayo
Track:
En Español / In Spanish, Women in Food & Agriculture
California Ag Water Supply: Challenges and Ways Forward
Where does our water come from? How is that going to change in the future? What are the guiding...
Presenter(s): Kamyar Guivetchi, Amrith Gunasekara
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
Getting Started with Fruit Trees!
For over 40 years, Orin Martin has instructed thousands of farmers and gardeners in the art and...
Presenter(s): Orin Martin
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, Permaculture, Gardening, Education
New Kinds of Genetic Engineering Threaten Organic Farms
Genetic engineering may be one of the biggest threats to the existence of organic agriculture. Now...
Presenter(s): Michael Hansen, Dana Perls
Track:
Food, Health, Community
Chinese Medicinal Herbs: A Unique Opportunity for Farmers
Chinese medicinal herbs are steadily becoming an emerging market, with an insufficient number of...
Presenter(s): David Melly, Peg Schafer
Track:
Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
The State of Organic Grain
In this session, we will hear from leading farmers and voices in organic grain. Bob Quinn has been...
Presenter(s): Liz Carlisle, Bob Quinn, David Vetter
Track:
Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
Mujeres Desarrollando Economías Locales Usando Agroecología en Mesoamérica
Bienvenida a nuestra delegación 2020 visitante de Nicaragua y México: Las pequeñas empresas de...
Presenter(s): Dinora García Díaz, Denisse García Moreno, Mirna Blandón Lumbí, Gisela Illescas Palma, Briseida Venegas Ramos, Darling Campo Rayo
Track:
En Español
Diversity, Equity, and Representation for All Farmers in Statewide Ag Polic...
The Farmer Equity Act was passed by the California Legislature in 2017. It acknowledged that...
Presenter(s): Hektor Calderon, Alfred Melbourne, Thea Rittenhouse
Track:
Equity, Social Justice, Food Sovereignty
Putting Biologicals to Work
Surendra Dara will share his work with strawberries and vegetables to develop reliable alternatives...
Presenter(s): Surendra Dara, David Peck
Track:
Pests, Beneficials, Ecosystems
Wise Words From Seasoned Farmers
Please join us for another memorable session as we hear about the farming careers of our agrarian...
Presenter(s): Wendy Johnson, David Katz, Peter Rudnick
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, History
Black Agrarianism
Some of our most cherished sustainable farming practices have roots in African wisdom. Yet,...
Presenter(s): Leah Penniman
Track:
Equity, Social Justice, Food Sovereignty, Women in Food & Agriculture
Climate Change Policy: What Do Farmers Need?
Farmers across the country are struggling to cope with the devastating impacts of climate change...
Presenter(s): Ernesto Meza, Dave Runsten
Track:
Organics, Policy, Regenerative Agriculture
Friday
Friday Session: Keynote | 7:45 am
Successful Organic Farmers - Friday Keynote Session
Rosie & Ward Burroughs Emigdio Ballon Scott Park
Presenter(s): Rosie & Ward Burroughs and Family, Emigdio Ballon, Scott Park
Friday Session: D | 10:30 am
Organic for Schools
Organic agriculture offers scientifically proven environmental, economic, and social benefits. To...
Presenter(s): Angela Griggs, Jennifer LeBarre, Judi Shils
Track:
Organics, Policy
CANCELLED - Farmworker Realities, New and Future Policies
There have been significant gains for farmworkers in the past year. For example, the 50-mile rule...
Presenter(s): Ann Lopez
Track:
Farm Business, Labor, Land
Encontrando Terrenos Agrícolas / Finding Agricultural Land
Muchos agricultores tienen la esperanza de comprar su propio terreno, pero con las barreras para...
Presenter(s): Brett Melone, Kaley Grimland de Mendoza
Track:
En Español / In Spanish
Digging Deeper into Different Marketing Channels: What’s Right for Me?
We all know that one of the hardest parts of farming is figuring out which are the best channels to...
Presenter(s): Qiana Cameron, Bianca Kaprielian, Jennifer Knapp
Track:
Marketing, Retail, Wholesale
Ecosystem Restoration Camps California
Based on the growing global Ecosystem Restoration Camp movement, we are drawing together our own...
Presenter(s): Ellen Farmer, Leo Lauchere, Kanyon Sayers-Roods
Track:
Permaculture, Gardening, Education
The Road to 100% Renewables
The number of U.S. farms that produce renewable energy has doubled in the past five years, to more...
Presenter(s): Joseph Button, Rada Dogandjieva
Track:
Food, Health, Community
Discussion Group: Making Room For Failure
We all know that farming can be hard: the weather, thin margins, the solitude, the labor. And more...
Presenter(s): Brie Gelinas, Daniella Sawaya
Track:
Food, Health, Community
Post-Harvest Handling Design for Small Farmers
Small-scale farmers often have many questions and ideas about how to design a post-harvest cleaning...
Presenter(s): Kali Feiereisel
Track:
Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
What Can We Learn From On-Farm Seed Trials?
On-farm variety trials are one of the most effective tools that farmers have for making smart...
Presenter(s): Nash Huber, Kristyn Leach, Eddie Tanner
Track:
Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
Discussion Group: Queer Visions of a Sustainable Future
What does queerness have to offer in shaping our visions of sustainability and the future? How can...
Presenter(s): Moretta Browne, Clare Riesman, Edgar Xochitl
Track:
Equity, Social Justice, Food Sovereignty
Bounteous Beneficial Birds Bolstered by Boxes and Bushes
Beneficial birds can help with production in the same way that beneficial insects can. This...
Presenter(s): Matt Johnson, Elissa Olimpi
Track:
Pests, Beneficials, Ecosystems
An Untold History: Asians In Farming
Asian growers have played a significant role in the history of farming in the U.S., but their...
Presenter(s): Robina Bhatti, Larry Hirahara, Amy Wu
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, Equity, Food Justice & Sovereignty, History, Women in Food & Agriculture
The National Organic Program: Whose Interests Should It Protect?
Can the National Organic Program rise to meet current-day challenges, such as protecting family...
Presenter(s): A-dae Romero-Briones, Abby Youngblood
Track:
Organics, Policy
Listening Session About the Future of EcoFarm Conference
Come engage in a conversation about the future of the organization and the conference with EcoFarm’...
Presenter(s): Andy Fisher
Track:
Food, Health, Community
Friday Session: E | 1:30 pm
Organic Farm Policy Update With the Organic Farmers Association
Join Organic Farmers Association Director Kate Mendenhall and OFA California Farmers Leadership...
Presenter(s): Mark McAfee, Kate Mendenhall, Dave Runsten
Track:
Organics, Policy
Discussion Group: Continuing the Fight to End Agricultural Toxics Now!
Last year's pesticide workshop spurred some real activism: over 400 postcards with comments were...
Presenter(s): Sam Earnshaw
Track:
Organics, Policy
Quickbooks and Your Chart of Accounts
Understanding how your business is making or losing money throughout the year is the way to a...
Presenter(s): Rebecca Frimmer
Track:
Farm Business, Labor, Land
Manejo de Suelos: Cómo Mejorar la Salud de su Recurso Más Valioso / Soil Ma...
Este taller está dividido en tres presentaciones de 30 minutos cada una. La primera es sobre la...
Presenter(s): Martín Guerena, Sacha Lozano, Omar Rodriguez
Track:
En Español / In Spanish
Innovative Marketing for Organic Produce Wholesalers
Organic fruit and vegetable farmers, particularly at the small to medium scale, face the daunting...
Presenter(s): Olivier Griss, Andy Martin
Track:
Marketing, Retail, Wholesale
Telling Your Story: Social Media Strategies to Spotlight Your Work
Social media, and in particular photos and video, have become a powerful channel for storytelling...
Presenter(s): Hannah Muller, Claudia Pizarro-Villalobos, Amy Wu
Track:
Marketing, Retail, Wholesale
Teaching Outside: School Gardens
School Gardens are important tools and spaces for educating children of all ages. Well seasoned...
Presenter(s): Rivka Mason, Wanda Stewart
Track:
Permaculture, Gardening, Education
Manejo de Suelos: Cómo Mejorar la Salud de su Recurso Más Valioso
Este taller está dividido en tres presentaciones de 30 minutos cada una. La primera es sobre la...
Presenter(s): Martín Guerena, Sacha Lozano, Omar Rodriguez
Track:
Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
Comprehensive Nitrogen Management for Crop Health and Reporting
Organic nitrogen management is particularly challenging because nitrogen from organic sources such...
Presenter(s): Patricia Lazicki, Margaret Lloyd
Track:
Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
Harvesting Hedgerows: Planting Elderberry for Biodiversity and Income
Native hedgerows on farm edges attract beneficial insects, store carbon and prevent water runoff...
Presenter(s): Sonja Brodt, Katie Fyhrie, Katie Reneker
Track:
Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
Minimizing Soil Disturbance in Organic Systems, Part I: State of the Art
For the last year-plus, a working group of California farmers, scientists and industry...
Presenter(s): Jeff Mitchell, Scott Park, Nathanael Siemens
Track:
Regenerative Agriculture, Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
Organic Weed Control in Vegetable Systems
Controlling weeds is extremely important in vegetable production at all scales. In this session,...
Presenter(s): Jake Benedict, Kali Feiereisel, Richard Smith
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, Pests, Beneficials, Ecosystems
Discussion Group: Organic Farmers and the Green New Deal: What Do We Want I...
The Green New Deal - an emergency mobilization to address economic inequities and reverse our march...
Presenter(s): Elizabeth Henderson
Track:
Organics, Policy
EcoFarm Celebrates the History of West Coast Organic Farming in the 1960s–1...
This fun and refreshing look-back features many of the pioneers of organic agriculture in...
Presenter(s): Dale Coke, Lynn Coody, Nash Huber, David Katz, Wendy Johnson, Richie Marks, Paul Muller, Jim Nelson, Steve Pavich, Peter Rudnick, Karen Salinger, Mark Squire, Kalita Todd, Karen Van Epen
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, History
Biodiversity or Sterility? Which Ensures Safe Food?
Regulation lags behind emerging science, often by decades. In the hypersensitive realm of food...
Presenter(s): Matthew Jones, Jan Velilla
Track:
Pests, Beneficials, Ecosystems
Friday Session: F | 3:30 pm
Invasion of the Stink Bugs!
They haven’t yet made it onto the list of California’s Most Wanted Insect Pests, but these hard-...
Presenter(s): Joanna Fisher, Ian M. Grettenberger, Jhalendra Rijal
Track:
Pests, Beneficials, Ecosystems
EcoFarm Celebrates the History of West Coast Organic Farming in the 1960s–1...
Stick around for the second of this two-part workshop to get a history lesson from many of the...
Presenter(s): Dale Coke, Lynn Coody, Nash Huber, David Katz, Wendy Johnson, Richie Marks, Paul Muller, Jim Nelson, Steve Pavich, Peter Rudnick, Karen Salinger, Kalita Todd, Karen Van Epen
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, History
Orchard Floor Management for Biodiversity and Soil Health
Keeping the orchard floor covered with native vegetation or a cover crop is key to promoting soil...
Presenter(s): Tanya Gemperle-Goncalves, Mike Naylor, Joanna Ory
Track:
Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
Navigating Regulations with Your Agricultural Ombudsman
Agricultural Ombudsmen help farmers understand and navigate the increasingly complicated web of...
Presenter(s): Doniga Markegard, Vince Trotter
Track:
Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
Calling all Organic Dairy & Grain Producers!
Organic farming is experiencing an enforcement crisis. Longstanding dairy sector abuses have forced...
Presenter(s): Jennifer Beretta, Abby Youngblood
Track:
Livestock, Ranching
Town Hall With Congressman Jimmy Panetta and CDFA Secretary Karen Ross
Please join CDFA Secretary Karen Ross and Congressman Jimmy Panetta in an informal question and...
Track:
Organics, Policy
Small Farm Tech: Innovation Challenge Winners
Technology can help farmers improve efficiency, save labor and connect with their customers. But...
Presenter(s): David Haynes, Sriraman Sabesan, Pedram Sheraf
Track:
Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
Producción de Fresas Todo el Año / Strawberry Production Year Round
Este taller esta diseñado para demostrarle cómo es que usted puede lograr una producción de fresas...
Presenter(s): Javier Zamora
Track:
En Español / In Spanish
Reducing Plastics in the Produce Department
While organic is the baseline for doing good, there is a growing demand to do more about the...
Presenter(s): Laura Batcha, Katherine DiMatteo, Lisa Spicka
Track:
Marketing, Retail, Wholesale
Discussion Group: Women/Womxn in Food & Ag Roundtable
Come and connect with your fellow women/womxn farmers and foodies and share your stories and...
Track:
Food, Health, Community, Women in Food & Agriculture
Discussion Group: Viva CSA! A Peer Discussion Session
For many farmers, CSA remains a challenging yet rewarding direct marketing channel. During this...
Presenter(s): Michelle Wyler
Track:
Marketing, Retail, Wholesale
Producción de Fresas Todo el Año
Este taller esta diseñado para demostrarle cómo es que usted puede lograr una producción de fresas...
Presenter(s): Javier Zamora
Track:
En Español
Collective Action for Food Systems Change
Our current food system is embedded with challenges to our social justice and equity, ecological...
Presenter(s): Dr. Samir K. Doshi, Kristyn Leach, Dr. Rupa Marya, Dr. Vandana Shiva
Track:
Equity, Social Justice, Food Sovereignty
Minimizing Soil Disturbance in Organic Systems, Part II: Equipment and Meth...
This workshop will focus on the “how-to” innovations and the “yet-to-be-resolved” hurdles related...
Presenter(s): Jeff Mitchell, Paul Muller
Track:
Regenerative Agriculture, Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
Saturday
Saturday Session: G | 8:30 am
Rebuilding River Ecosystems and Farmscapes
Farmers, scientists, water districts, and conservationists are all working together in the Central...
Presenter(s): Roger Cornwell, David Guy, Jacob Katz, Bryce Lundberg
Track:
Pests, Beneficials, Ecosystems
Farmland for Farmers Forever: Agricultural Conservation and the Future of F...
Our country continues to lose farmland at the astonishing rate of over a million and a half acres a...
Presenter(s): Alli Cecchini, Kathryn Lyddan
Track:
Farm Business, Labor, Land
The Farmer-Driven Ethical Diet
Small-scale and organic livestock and dairy producers face numerous challenges, including...
Presenter(s): Kaley Grimland de Mendoza, Spencer Smith
Track:
Livestock, Ranching
Developing New Tomato Varieties for Organic Farmers
Organic growers are confronted with a dilemma when it comes to the availability of new cultivars...
Presenter(s): Steve Peters, Kanti Rawal
Track:
Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
Managing for Resilience
Farmers need to know how to manage for resilience—the ability to recover in response to a...
Presenter(s): Amélie Gaudin, Valerie Eviner
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, Regenerative Agriculture, Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
Organic Seedling Production and Greenhouse Efficiencies for Small Farms
This session focuses on managing environmental conditions and systems to optimize germination and...
Presenter(s): Christof Bernau
Track:
Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
Which Crops to Follow Which Crops? Including Cover Crops
Learn from the experience of farmers and a farm advisor about the sequencing and rotations of...
Presenter(s): Leonard Diggs, Dick Peixoto, Richard Smith
Track:
Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, Soil, Production, Crops, Regulations
Personal Well-Being Through Nature's Wisdom
Connect to the sacred in the work you do and the land you love. Learn practical exercises designed...
Presenter(s): Kalita Todd
Track:
Food, Health, Community
Food Equity and Access Through Community Garden Programs
To date, City Slicker Farms, GRuB, and Sierra Harvest have built over 1000 gardens in their...
Presenter(s): Edy Cassell, Laura Marone, Julie Pavuk
Track:
Permaculture, Gardening, Education
Saturday Session: Keynote | 10:30 am
Two Paths to the Future of Food and Farming
Dr. Vandana Shiva There are two paths to the future of our food and farming. The first path is made...
Presenter(s): Dr. Vandana Shiva
