Research and Training in Andean Agroecological Systems

The Research and Training Program in Andean Agroecological Systems, promoted by the alliance between the Crop Research Program (CCRP) of the McKnight Foundation and CLACSO, began in 2018 with the The objective is to promote knowledge, training, and participatory research on family farming practices through the integration of agroecological principles into agricultural and systems management in the high mountains (above 2500 meters above sea level) of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, working with small farmers.

Within the framework of 18th Meeting of the Community of Practice Held in Quito, Ecuador, the CLACSO team, comprised of Pablo Vommaro, Director of Research, and Karina Bidaseca, Program Coordinator, along with Luis Remache, scholarship recipient and indigenous farmer from Ecuador, presented the results of the first phase, which is concluding in 2022, and the proposals for the new project that will begin in August 2022 and run until 2025.

Also The book “Andean agroecological systems” was presentedThis publication, coordinated by Karina Bidaseca and Pablo Vommaro (CLACSO/McKnight), presents the results of the research produced. It is open access and available for free download from the website. CLACSO Virtual Library.

Throughout 4 years, The Program built an international network of institutions which includes: the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences, Ecuador headquarters, the National Agrarian University La Molina – CIZA (Peru), the National University of Engineering (Peru), the National Higher University of San Marcos (Peru), Agroecology University Cochabamba – AGRUCO (Bolivia), the Higher University of San Simón (Bolivia), the Graduate Institute Geneva, UK Leuven, the Autonomous University of Madrid, the University of León, University of the Basque Country – Master's Degree in Models and Areas of Research in Social Sciences and the Polytechnic University of Madrid.

The purpose of new CLACSO/McKnight project for the period 2022-2025 It aims to expand and strengthen achievements, building upon lessons learned and experiences, and consolidating the community of knowledge and practices built over the past three years. Likewise, it seeks to expand and consolidate a Regional Research Hubs Program that contributes to strengthening research processes and logics related to Agroecology. This initiative is expected to have a decisive impact on the knowledge and practice of family farming by integrating ecological principles into agricultural and systems management. Research will also focus on increasing productivity, making better use of local resources, maximizing the return on external inputs, and achieving greater stability and diversity in diets. The research will also focus on small-scale farmers and their communities. Fieldwork will be conducted in high-altitude areas of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia (above 2.500 meters above sea level).

Projects must include the DEI dimension: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, as a cross-cutting perspective.