Ecuador is going through a substantial nutritional transition. This, coupled with the paradox that rural families that produce food are often those most affected by undernutrition, shows the ironies of ‘modern’ food systems. It also highlights the importance of rural-urban linkages around family nutrition which can help to address such contradictions. This is what we see among families living in two rural villages, San Francisco Alto and Ambuqui, in the north of Ecuador, who through various strategies have managed to achieve healthy, diversified and nutritious diets.

The Canastas Comunitarias, a movement started by families to address their concerns over food prices provides a clear example of an approach that highlights the importance of showcasing peoples’ experiences as an inspiration for social change. Read more

Las experiencias de producción familiar agroecológica en diferentes regiones del mundo han evidenciado que es una opción viable para promover la seguridad alimentaria y, al mismo tiempo, conservar la biodiversidad de nuestros países. En los países andinos, los pequeños productores junto con los
movimientos agroecológicos han cumplido un rol importante para la promoción y sostenimiento de este tipo de iniciativas, como una propuesta con potencial para atender la precaria situación prevaleciente en el campo. Con el propósito de difundir estas iniciativas agroecológicas en la Comunidad Andina, los gobiernos nacionales, junto con la Secretaría General de la CAN, ejecutaron el Proyecto “Promoción de la Agricultura Familiar Agroecológica Campesina en la Comunidad Andina”.  La presente publicación presenta un resumen de los principales resultados de este trabajo.

Improve the structure of soils, to document the advantage of water that is deep in the soil, to limit the use of pesticides. In the future it is possible to diversify the agroecosystems.

Voices from over 80 farmers and fisherfolks from US, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela and Haiti about what food sovereignty means to them and how they are pursuing it or obstacles they face when pursuing it.  

BioAndes was a regional programme carried out in Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru with the objective of “strengthening the capacities of local actors in the sustainable management of the region’s biodiversity”. Having run for 5 years, they were interested in presenting a detailed document to the national and regional authorities. With the help of many of those directly involved in the programme, ILEIA carried out a systematisation process, and presented the results as a 100-page document.