Episode 6: Close to Home - Glyphosate and Relocalizing Food with Helena Norberg-Hodge

In this episode, Helena Norberg-Hodge, founder of Local Futures and pioneer of the localization movement, zooms out to reveal the deeper roots of our chemical-dependent food system. Drawing from decades of experience in Ladakh and beyond, Helena connects glyphosate to globalization—tracing how industrial agriculture, free trade, and corporate power have separated people from the land and each other. She makes a powerful case for localization as the antidote: rebuilding local food systems, restoring community, and rekindling our relationship with nature. This conversation is both a history lesson and a hopeful roadmap toward reconnection, resilience, and real food sovereignty.

Social Handles 

Personal:

Instagram: @helenanorberghodge 

LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/in/helena-norberg-hodge⁠

Website: ⁠helenanorberghodge.com/⁠ 

Local Futures: 

Instagram: @localfutures

Facebook: @LocalFutures.TheEconomicsofHappiness

YouTube: @ISECeconofhappiness

Vimeo: @theeconomicsofhappiness

Website: www.localfutures.org⁠

Bio: Helena Norberg-Hodge is a linguist, filmmaker, and global thought leader whose work champions the renewal of local food systems and the cultural wisdom they carry. As founder of Local Futures, Helena has spent decades working alongside Indigenous communities in Ladakh, Bhutan, and beyond, gathering insights that speak to the root causes of ecological and societal disconnection.

She is the author of Ancient Futures and Local is Our Future, and producer of acclaimed films including The Economics of Happiness and Planet Local. Through these works, she invites a reimagining of progress, one that places wellbeing, relationship, and biodiversity at the heart of economic life.

In this series, Helena brings a deeply grounded view of how global systems impact local resilience, and why reclaiming the right to shape our food and farming futures is one of the most powerful actions we can take.

Website: ⁠⁠theinvisibleingredient.org⁠

Citations: ⁠⁠Here⁠

Special thanks to the incredible teams at ⁠farmersfootprint.us⁠ and farmersfootprint.org.au⁠ ⁠as well as ⁠podbyron.com.au⁠ ⁠for their amazing support in producing the show. ⁠

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in The Invisible Ingredient podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Farmer’s Footprint or any affiliated organisation. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical, legal, or professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making decisions relating to health, farming practices, or environmental management. The Invisible Ingredient shares conversations that awaken awareness of how our food systems, environment, and health are intertwined. We invite you to listen with curiosity, explore the research, and carry forward what resonates on your own path toward healthier people, land, and communities.