Competent use of high value Andean crops (ANDESCROP)

project summary

Food security in the Andes is low due to extremely harsh climatic conditions, poor soils, and a high poverty levels. The project objective is to improve food security in the Andean region by developing methods for sustainable use of Andean plant genetic resources, soil, water and biodiversity, and by linking small-scale producers to modern markets. The project will strengthen local research capacity and develop human resources for continued and innovative research and development in the Andean crops. Field studies will be carried out together with national research institutions, and in farmers' communities, to ensure participation, relevance and accept of the project. We will provide high research standards and develop a local research platform in concordance with and building upon available local knowledge of the environmentally limiting factors. To do this, we will predominantly concentrate on on-farm participatory experiments. This focus is in concordance with local preferences. Local knowledge of the Andean crops, their genetic resources and their traditional use will form an integral part of the study. Specific objectives will be examine access to high quality seeds and development of integrated crop management strategies. The project intends to increase use of the crops by developing processing and marketing at domestic and international markets, by involving stakeholders to develop business models that can improve food security and income when producing high value Andean crops. The project will be co-ordinated jointly by LIFE and UMSA, the Bolivian counterpart. The project has been divided into three major themes and in total ten workpackages, each with a Bolivian and Danish responsible scientist, working closely together. The communication strategy uses several channels: field days every year in each major region, stakeholder meetings and scientific and popular publications. A webpage will be established: (www.andescrop.life.ku.dk).