RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROGRAM IN ANDEAN AGROECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR
The Research and Training Program in Andean Agroecological Systems, founded in 2018 through a partnership between CLACSO and the McKnight Foundation, is organizing another in-person meeting with participants from the 10 research projects currently underway in Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador. This meeting, which will take place from October 2nd to 5th in the city of Tarija, Bolivia, is supported by Jaina, the San Andrés Agricultural Technological Institute (ITASA), and the Juan Misael Saracho University.
The Program aims to promote the agroecological approach within educational institutions by forming or consolidating Research Groups; develop and support action research and participatory research focused on farmers, peasants, and indigenous people who support or are part of a transition towards agroecology; promote dialogue between researchers, teachers, undergraduate and/or postgraduate students, social leaders and local communities; and articulate biophysical knowledge with social, cultural and environmental perspectives, both local and global, including ancestral practices and knowledge, among others. https://www.clacso.org/programa-de-investigacion-y-formacion-en-sistemas-agroecologicos-andinos-5/
The seminar will feature the participation of Claire Nicklin (Ecuador/Regional Representative for the Andes, CCRP of the McKnight Foundation), Kaia Ambrose (Canada), Karina A. Bidaseca and Maura Brighenti (CLACSO/Argentina), Claudia Pilar Lizarraga Aranibar and Carlos Alfredo Vacaflores (JAINA Studies Community, Bolivia), and leading figures in the field of agroecology such as: Narciso Barrera Bassol (Mexico), María Inés Gazzano (Uruguay) and Stalin Herrera (Ecuador).
Among the highlights, the photography exhibition organized by the projects will open on Tuesday, October 1st. On Wednesday the 2nd, the Learning Map and Route of the research teams from the first cohort will be presented, along with the Knowledge Exchange Fair entitled “Traveling Worlds: The Research Projects of the Second Cohort.”
On Thursday, the 3rd, the session “Agroecology in Latin America and the Andes: Concepts, Perspectives, Practices, and Experiences in Current Debates” will take place, marking the second part of the Fair. A meeting will also be held with the Postgraduate Studies Department of the Juan Misael Saracho University regarding the Master's program and opportunities for scaling up and transforming the institution. In the evening, the book “Buen Vivir and Local Knowledge: Andean Systems and Agroecology,” coordinated by Karina Bidaseca (program coordinator) and Pablo Vommaro (Academic Secretary), and published by CLACSO and McKnight in collaboration with Jaina, will be presented. https://www.clacso.org/buen-vivir-y-saberes-locales-2/
On Friday the 4th, the participants will travel to the rural community of Calderilla for a field exercise. On Saturday the 5th, the presentation will take place. Mapping The seminar will include a presentation by representatives from agroecology institutions and organizations in the Andes, followed by the session "Building Our Community of Practice" and the evaluation and closing of the seminar. The closing ceremony will be led by an Amauta (Andean spiritual leader) in a traditional ceremony respecting local customs and traditions.
The complete seminar agenda can be found here.
