Andean indigenous foodscapes: food security and food sovereignty in mountains’ sustainability scenarios

Abstract:

Nearly 22 percent of the terrestrial surface of our planet is covered by mountains. This area is occupied by 13 percent of the world populations. Within developing countries, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean have the highest proportion of mountain terrain. Mountainscapes are very important in South America not only for the nearly 160 million people who live there, but also for its altitudinal and latitudinal gradients (from 300 to near 7000 meters above sea level (asl) and from 10ºN to 54ºS) that allows water generation for land below the mountains, a huge biodiversity (plants, animals, microorganisms and processes therein), diverse microclimatic conditions, different soil types, and biocultural landscapes. Andean mountains give to humanity a lot of species for food such as animals (like camelidaes, cavidaes, cracidaes, among others) and different roots, tubers, legumes, grains, vegetables, fruits, walnuts and different fiber types. In a global change scenario, probably the most important feature is the genetic contribution that Andean species can give to improve traditional crops. In effect, Andean foodstuff has tolerance or resistance to harsh conditions, such as water shortages or saline conditions, low fertilization, UVß resistance, among other factors, that are highlighted in cultivars of the different ecoregions.

Año de publicación:

2020

Keywords:

Fuente:

scopus