Meghalaya’s organic agriculture ambitions took centre-stage recently as Shillong hosted the inaugural Northeast India Organic Week, a landmark initiative positioning the state and the wider region as rising participants in global organic trade. Organised by the Government of Meghalaya in partnership with APEDA, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and IFOAM–Organics Asia, the event brought together two major international platforms: the APEDA International Buyer–Seller Meet and the 4th IFOAM World Organic Youth Summit. APEDA has long supported Meghalaya in strengthening its organic value chain, helping high-value produce such as ginger, turmeric, fruits, and niche spices enter Middle Eastern markets. This collaboration has enhanced market access, improved price realisation for farmers and raised global visibility for the state’s natural and organic products. Delegates, buyers, and representatives from 13 countries—including Malaysia, Taiwan, Mongolia, New Zealand and Indonesia—participated in the event, reinforcing Meghalaya’s positioning as a gateway for international organic trade and youth-driven innovation. The formal session opened with remarks from Dr Saswati Bose, General Manager, APEDA, who described the gathering as a significant milestone for India and the global organic community. She noted that Meghalaya’s biodiversity and community-led farming practices make it uniquely suited to champion organic agriculture. Dr Vijay Kumar D, Commissioner and Secretary for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, highlighted the state’s strong post-pandemic economic trajectory, recording 10 per cent growth over the last four years. He reiterated the Chief Minister’s vision of more than doubling farmers’ incomes by 2028 and outlined Meghalaya’s hub-and-spoke model linking village-level centres to major “Prime Hubs.” He also referenced the new Rs 250 million ginger processing facility, the largest organic spice unit in the Northeast, and emphasised the value of Lakadong turmeric, known for its high curcumin content. Plans for an extraction unit for bio-curcumin tablets, expansion of certified organic land to one lakh hectares, and climate action initiatives under Green Meghalaya were also detailed. He further highlighted the potential of the state’s extensive bamboo reserves for producing biochar to improve soil health. APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev underscored Meghalaya’s export potential and stressed the need for strong partnerships with state governments to ensure last-mile integration across the value chain. He welcomed deeper engagement with IFOAM and affirmed APEDA’s commitment to maintaining credible organic certification under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). IFOAM Asia’s Executive Director, Jennifer Chang, praised the region’s natural biodiversity and “organic by default” character, recalling field visits to Khasi Mandarin farms. Adviser Brendan Hoare highlighted the importance of cross-border collaboration within the global organic movement. Following the inaugural session, dignitaries opened the Exhibition Area featuring certified organic products from FPOs and cooperatives across the region. A dedicated Meghalaya Organic Pavilion showcased produce and innovations from entities such as Meghalaya Collectives, Meghalayan Age, PRIME, and APEDA. The session concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Saloni Verma, IAS. A key highlight was a presentation by Priyanka Uday of CRISIL, titled “Meghalaya – A Growing Powerhouse in India’s Organic Sector.” She outlined the state’s “organic by default” advantage, strong horticulture growth and export breakthroughs—such as 15 MT of organic ginger shipped to Dubai and expanding black pepper sales. GI-tagged Khasi Mandarins entering Gulf markets through the Lulu Group further demonstrated the region’s export potential. Afternoon sessions included the Buyer–Seller Meet and a programme on sensitisation and capacity building under the 8th edition of NPOP, focusing on regulation and labelling requirements. The Northeast India Organic Week continues through 1 December, serving as a platform for youth-led innovation, global trade engagement and the shaping of a stronger organic agriculture ecosystem. Meghalaya has positioned itself as a regional model for sustainable, value-driven agricultural development.