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Food systems of the Andean Quechua: Countering industrial agriculture through harmonious living, food sovereignty, and traditional knowledge

Kozak, Vera LU (2022) HEKM51 20221
Department of Human Geography
Human Ecology
Abstract
The Potato Park is an Andean Quechua biocultural heritage territory where six communities restored a rich biodiversity of native potatoes and other crops. Their food system has gained global recognition over the past two decades for the communities’ cultural and agricultural conservation efforts. The central question of this study is how do the communities resist the hegemonic industrial agricultural model? In this thesis I am analysing the relationship between agricultural conservation, the Quechua social system of reciprocity and their unique way of combining traditional and Western knowledge in their agricultural efforts and beyond. Through a thematic analysis I found that through rituals and a collective way of tending to the land they... (More)
The Potato Park is an Andean Quechua biocultural heritage territory where six communities restored a rich biodiversity of native potatoes and other crops. Their food system has gained global recognition over the past two decades for the communities’ cultural and agricultural conservation efforts. The central question of this study is how do the communities resist the hegemonic industrial agricultural model? In this thesis I am analysing the relationship between agricultural conservation, the Quechua social system of reciprocity and their unique way of combining traditional and Western knowledge in their agricultural efforts and beyond. Through a thematic analysis I found that through rituals and a collective way of tending to the land they united their six communities, led by the ‘charisma’ and organisational power of the potato and spirits of their landscape. For their agriculture, food sovereignty and autonomy are interrelated in their approach to running the Park independent of the Peruvian state. At the same time local and global food security are at the focus of their work conserving climate adaptable seeds and storing them in local and global seed banks and vaults: this is central for their care for the land and future generations. Their contribution to science production is unique, because in their approach to combining indigenous and Western science, creating a bridge between academia, policy making and indigenous traditional knowledge and present experiences of climate change and challenges of sustainability. Through the concept of translation work I investigate how further collaboration with indigenous groups is possible in the field of human ecology and beyond. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Kozak, Vera LU
supervisor
organization
course
HEKM51 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
language
English
id
9079588
date added to LUP
2022-09-28 14:49:58
date last changed
2022-09-28 14:49:58
@misc{9079588,
  abstract     = {{The Potato Park is an Andean Quechua biocultural heritage territory where six communities restored a rich biodiversity of native potatoes and other crops. Their food system has gained global recognition over the past two decades for the communities’ cultural and agricultural conservation efforts. The central question of this study is how do the communities resist the hegemonic industrial agricultural model? In this thesis I am analysing the relationship between agricultural conservation, the Quechua social system of reciprocity and their unique way of combining traditional and Western knowledge in their agricultural efforts and beyond. Through a thematic analysis I found that through rituals and a collective way of tending to the land they united their six communities, led by the ‘charisma’ and organisational power of the potato and spirits of their landscape. For their agriculture, food sovereignty and autonomy are interrelated in their approach to running the Park independent of the Peruvian state. At the same time local and global food security are at the focus of their work conserving climate adaptable seeds and storing them in local and global seed banks and vaults: this is central for their care for the land and future generations. Their contribution to science production is unique, because in their approach to combining indigenous and Western science, creating a bridge between academia, policy making and indigenous traditional knowledge and present experiences of climate change and challenges of sustainability. Through the concept of translation work I investigate how further collaboration with indigenous groups is possible in the field of human ecology and beyond.}},
  author       = {{Kozak, Vera}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Food systems of the Andean Quechua: Countering industrial agriculture through harmonious living, food sovereignty, and traditional knowledge}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}