Organic Farming in Latin America and the Caribbean

In Latin America, 220’000 producers managed 6.4 million hectares of agricultural land organically in 2007. This constitutes 20 percent of the world’s organic land. The leading countries are Argentina (2'777'959 hectares), Brazil (1'765'793 hectares) and Uruguay (930'965 hectares). The highest shares of organic agricultural land are in the Dominican Republic and Uruguay with more than six percent and in Mexico and Argentina with more than two percent. Most organic production in Latin America is for export. Important crops are tropical fruits, grains and cereals, coffee and cocoa, sugar and meats. Most organic food sales in the domestic markets of the countries occur in major cities, such as Buenos Aires and São Paulo. Fifteen countries have legislation on organic farming, and four additional countries are currently developing organic regulations. Costa Rica and Argentina have both attained third country status according to the EU regulation on organic farming. In recognition of the growing importance of the organic sector to Latin America’s agricultural economy, governmental institutions have begun to take steps towards increasing involvement; governments are beginning to play a central role in the promotion of organic agriculture. The types of support in Latin American countries range from organic agriculture promotion programs to market access support by export agencies. In a few countries, limited financial support is being given to pay certification cost during the conversion period. An important process underway in many Latin America countries is the establishment of regulations and standards for the organic sector

¿Qué es Organic Eprints?

La Sociedad Científica Latinoamericana de Agroecología – SOCLA, e IFOAM América Latina (Federación Internacional de Movimientos de Agricultura Orgánica – Grupo Regional de América Latina), en ocasión de realizarse el IV Congreso Latinoamericano de Agroecología, pone a disposición de la comunidad científica, miembros y colaboradores del movimiento agroecológico en la región; el servicio que brinda Organic Eprints con la finalidad de difundir y poner disponible en la internet, los trabajos presentados y aprobados por la comisión de evaluación de artículos del Congreso. Los invitamos a utilizar este práctico y útil repositorio de documentos científicos y de investigación, así como trabajos basados en las experiencias agroecológicas

Preliminary Results Of The Global Comparative Study On Interactions Between PGS and Social Processes

Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) are viable organic verification systems complementary alternative to third party certification. This paper evaluates the interactions between PGS and social processes (e.g. seed management) and identifies how both PGS and social processes can play a trigger role to improve livelihoods of rural communities worldwide and particularly in the Peruvian Andes. It draws from in-depth interviews with 84 PGS women and men farmers from eight selected PGS initiatives in India, Philippines, South Africa, Peru, Mexico, Brazil and France, as well as 24 stakeholders involved in the development of PGS. Preliminary results show that PGS is an important platform for the development of social processes and that social processes positively impact PGS initiatives in different ways, thereby improving the sustainability of the PGS. Moreover, the results demonstrate so far that the entry into PGS offers farmers, farm families and their communities a range of benefits: improved social bonds at the local level; farmer empowerment; reduction in the costs of farming; better market access and regular sales; increased farm incomes; enhanced food security; improved management of local natural resources. The final detailed research report will be available November 2013 and will include guidance on conditions under which a PGS is likely to become successful and recommendations for farmers, policy makers, researchers and the organic movement

11 Verduras para Diversificar la Dieta Peruana

Los peruanos debemos comer más verduras. Estos alimentos son fuentes esenciales de vitaminas, minerales, antioxidantes y fibra alimentaria y la ciencia muestra día a día su contribución a la prevención de enfermedades. Para tener un estilo de vida saludable es necesario comer diariamente cinco porciones de frutas y verduras y hacer ejercicio físico regularmente. Aquí presentamos una lista corta de once hortalizas de hoja, algunas son yuyos de uso tradicional en el campo peruano, otras son verduras nuevas o de uso muy reducido

Proyecto AGROECO, Informes y Avances en Campo 2011-2012

El proyecto Intensificación ecológica y socioeconómica de la pequeña agricultura andina (AGROECO) es un proyecto de investigación-acción que buscar analizar y explicar los efectos de la práctica agroecológica en la seguridad alimentaria de las familias campesinas y de pequeña agricultura andina. Es financiado por el Fondo Canadiense de Investigación Internacional en Seguridad Alimentaria (CIFSRF) y se desarrolla entre 2011 y 2014 con acciones de campo en las regiones de Cusco y Cajamarca en los Andes peruanos

Participatory guarantee systems: organic certification to empower farmers and strengthen communities

- Problem statement - Current PGS initiatives - Introduction: What are PGS

ペルー ニ オケル ノウギョウ セイサン ノ ドウコウ ト カダイ / コウゲン サンガク チタイ ニ オケル ジャガイモ サイバイ オ チュウシン ト シタ ヨビ テキ コウサツ

ペルーは農業的には沿岸地帯,高原・山岳地帯および熱帯雨林地帯の3つに区分できる。アンデス山地の農民は長い歴史の中で多種類の作物・家畜を順化させ,独特な山地農業を構築してきた。とくに高標高地帯ではジャガイモ栽培を中心としている。本稿では,本格的なペルー農業研究の準備として,生態系視点から3地帯の特徴を整理し,農業生産動向をマクロ的に検討し,さらにアンデス山地での実態調査に基づいて,ジャガイモ栽培の技術と経済性について考察する。アンデス山地農業は低生産性と低所得水準を特徴としているが,ペルーの食料自給化の推進のために重要な役割が期待されており,NGOを中心とする民間団体が技術普及に協力している。本稿ではこうしたNGO活動も紹介し,普及を図っている生態系農業の技術と経済性をジャガイモを軸に論述する。Peru consists of three agro-ecological zones : Coast, Highland, and Tropical Rainforest. Many kinds of crops and animals adapted to local conditions of Andes over a long history, and not only came to constitute unique highland agricultural systems but also diffused useful crops to the rest of the world. Especially well known is the adaptation of potato in Andes. In preparation for a full scale research in Peru, this paper aims to clarify agricultural and ecological characteristics of the three zones, examine agricultural production trends in recent decades, and discuss technological and economic aspects of potato cultivation based on field study conducted in the Andes. Although Andean agriculture may be characterized by low levels of productivity and income, it is expected to play a greater role in increasing domestic food production in Peru. Not only government institutes but also NGOs are actively involved in research and extension for the promotion of Andean agricultural development. Ecological agriculture promoted by one such NGO will be taken up for a case study of potato cultivation in highland areas

ペルー チュウオウ アンデス ノウソン ニ オケル シュヨウ サクモツ ノ サイバイ ギジュツ ト ケイザイセイ / マンタロー ボンチ プカラ ソン ノ ジレイ ケンキュウ

東京農業大学学術フロンティア共同研究の一環として,ペルー中央部マンタロー盆地のプカラ村にて2002年9月に実施した実態調査に基づいて,主要作物の試算分析を行った。当村では平坦部に灌漑畑が存在し販売を目的とした集約的な野菜栽培が行われているが,背後の斜面に位置する天水畑ではジャガイモ栽培を軸とした輪作によって自給的な農業が行われている。われわれは農家質問票調査によって野菜栽培の技術・経営データを収集し現在分析中である。本稿は農家経済の重要な一部を成す斜面農業に限定した論考であり,農家インタビューで収集した情報に基づいて,輪作体系および主要作物の栽培技術体系と経済性を明らかにすることを狙っている。当村には村有地が配分されずに残っており,3,800mを上回る高標高地帯では村人による自由な作付けが保証されている。したがって,まず土地制度と村有地の利用状況を論述してから,主要作物(ジャガイモ,トウモロコシ,ソラマメ,エンドウマメ,オオムギ,コムギ)および在来根菜マシュアを取上げ,輪作体系下における栽培技術と経済性を解明した。その結果,アンデス農民の主食であるジャガイモ,トウモロコシおよびソラマメの栽培においては経済的持続性が確認できた。しかし,ジャガイモの生産リスクが著しく高いことが明らかになり,収量は低いが低コスト栽培のマシュアが家族の主食確保における保険機能を果たすと考えられた。As a part of the Academic Frontier Research Project, Tokyo University of Agriculture, we conducted an agricultural survey in Pucara Village, Mantaro Valley, in September 2002. There are two types of land in this village, flat irrigated fields and slope fields. Intensive vegetable cultivation is practiced in the flat area for commercial purposes, whereas traditional potato farming under a crop rotation system is observed on the slope fields. This paper focuses on slope farming, which is an important part of the farm household economy in this village, while a detailed analysis of vegetable cultivation will be presented elsewhere. We conducted a series of intensive interviews with the villagers with respect to their land use, crop cultivation, and costs-and-returns. Based on these data, land tenure and land use will first be clarified in this paper, as the communal land located at parts higher than 3,800m in altitude is used freely by the villagers. This will be followed by the clarification of crop rotation systems, and cultivation techniques and economics of the major crops. Seven crops, potato, corn, broad beans, green peas, wheat, barley, and mashua, are taken up for analysis. Budgeting analysis will show that the three main food items of the Andean farmers, potato, corn and broad beans, are grown in sustainable ways. However, potato appears to be a highly risky crop, due to the adoption of modern technology and price fluctuation, whereas mashua is considered to function as an insurance crop for the family need

Cuarenta (40) viejas y nuevas verduras para diversificar tu alimentación y nutrirte mejor (anexo 31 del informe técnico final)

The publication “40 old and new vegetables to diversify your diet and nourish yourself better”, has the aim to stimulate curiosity about horticultural biodiversity and its cultural, nutritional and economic value. The book encourages experimentation to have a more balanced and diversified nutrition, rich in nutrients helping to prevent disease. With this book, urban readers will also get know more about the rural reality and smallholders livelihoods whom produce the food the cities need, it will help to reconnect and prefer organically produced products, supporting a permanent improvement of their production systems and the gastronomy sector. Under the moto “eat delicious, eat healthy, eat Peruvian”, the cook – farmer alliance has gained power giving strong messages to Peruvian society. The 40 vegetables have been selected because of their availability, accessibility, nutritional value and traditional knowledge linkages. The selected vegetables belong to the following groups: Andean leaves; Leaves and stems; aromatic herbs; microgreens; brassicas and relatives; flowers; chilies, tomatoes and relatives; legumes; pumpkins and relatives; algae, bacteria and fungi

Organic smallholder women supplying the gastronomic sector in Cusco, Peru

Aimed at promoting better conditions of food security, this practitioners’ paper describes the short-chain market integration of smallholder women supplying organic vegetables to the gastronomic sector in tourist destination Cusco (Peru), complementing PGS progress and local organic marketplace initiatives. Economic viability and bottlenecks along the value chain are analyzed as well as suggestions and challenges for sustainability presented