Innovation for poverty reduction with inclusion in the Andean Region. Fernandez-Baca, Montoya,...

Innovation and Sustainable Development in Agriculture and food – June 28 / July 1, 2010w w w . is da 2 0 1 0 . n e t

Innovation for poverty reduction with inclusion in the

Andean Region

Panorama Andino in Agricultural innovation systems

Fernández-Baca, Edith

Montoya, Maria Paz

Yañez, Natalia

Hot topic

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The Andean context• The Andes has an extension of 7500 km, and

a population of around 40 million people.

• Biodiversity and cultural heterogeneity .

• Lack of basic infrastructure and access to

basic services.

• Different types of drivers are forcing changes

in peoples’ livelihoods.

In this context, local communities are developing creative responses and adjustments to these changes through innovation of agricultural systems.

Fernandez-Baca, Montoya and Yañez Innovation and Sustainable Development in Agriculture and food – June 28 / July 1, 2010

Objectives and methodology• To elaborate a synthesis on the state of the knowledge in

innovation, an analysis of innovation case studies and the situation of policies in the region.

• We use the innovation systems conceptual framework.An innovation system is a group of networks conformed by organizations, enterprises and individuals which are focused in provide a use and economic, social and cultural value to new products, new processes and new organization figures considering those institutions and politics that affect the behavior of the system (Rajalahti, R., W. Janssen y E. Pehu. 2008. Agricultural Innovation Systems: From Diagnostics toward Operational Practices. Agriculture and Rural Development Discussion Paper 38. The World Bank)..

• Case studies selection: two stages

1. E-forum: 40 case studies identified.

2. Specialist Workshop: 18 case studies selected


Innovation elements


Innovation element Description

1.Participatory processes Empowerment, self management, local knowledge and social inclusion processes.

2.Incorporation of ICTs Different uses of new technology in production, management and trade processes.

3.Process attributes Strengthening certain phases of the innovation process.

4.Products attributes Strengthening products developed in the innovation process.

5.Alliances Networks and their impacts in the market chain and in the social and political institutional environment.

6.Organization strengths Capacities and competencies the organization has learned and strength throughout the innovation process.

7.Potential Possibilities the innovation has to be replicated in other areas.

8.Balance between the capitals

Interaction between the social, political, economic, physical and environmental capital.

Review of cases


• Development of abilities for productive improvement and milk commercialization in farmer communities (Peru)

• Specialization program for coffee tasters with an international Q-Grader certification (Peru)

• Strengthening capacities for production, management and commercialization of textile handicraft (Peru)

• Yacon recuperation and agro industry (Argentina)• Royal Quinoa reintroduction in Cusi Cusi (Argentina)• Technicature in regional cuisine and food culture (Argentina)• Communitarian baskets (Ecuador)• Seed guardians` network (Ecuador)• Katalysis: helping Andean farmers face climate change

(Ecuador)

Review of cases• Biodiversity conservation and market access by small scale

farmers (Bolivia)• Api produced from Oca (Bolivia)• Tusuco Net: communitary tourism as an alternative for rural

development (Bolivia)• Los Soches agro park (Colombia)• Sustainable potato agriculture in Fuquene (Colombia)• Social management for rural organization based on an e-

learning process (Colombia)• CECOSESOLA and the vegetables fairs (Venezuela)• La Alianza cooperative (Venezuela)• Rural boxes for credit (Venezuela)


Some trends

Authors authors authors authors authors Innovation and Sustainable Development in Agriculture and food – June 28 / July 1, 2010

Handicraft textiles Yauli : Perú

Results • Local textile enterprise

“Pachacutec Tassana” incubated. • 75% of production shipped to

North America and Europe, 20% for internal market (Lima)

• 150 weavers, mainly women • Improved knitting, weaving, quality

control and packaging techniques.• Use of natural dyes. • Improved workshop equipment.• Use of internet tools (web page)


Capacity building and technical assistance to improve business management skills and textile quality through better transformation techniques, definition of fashion and color trends and commercialization channels.

Social Communitarian Tourism TUSOCO : Bolivia Objectives:

•Strengthen local tourism entrepreneurships•Contribute to product quality improvement , promotion and commercialization•Contribute to community self-management.•Promote conservation of environmental and cultural heritage.•Help built networks towards increasing benefits from communitarian tourism.

Results:

•Collective action has helped strengthen community representativity and visibility by creating new products and touristic circuits. •New inter institutional agreements (with vice ministries, city halls, NGOs, embassies among others) in order to promote communitarian tourism •The proposal has helped deliver a new General Law on Tourism. •Creation of TUSOCO Viajes SRL (100% farmer’s organizations)


Communitarian baskets: Ecuador

Results• Urban consumers organized to

access to healthier food products to improve their diets.

• Rural- urban relationships strengthened through the articulation of producers organizations as providers of agroecological products.

• Use of participatory methodologies for access, distribution and consumption directed towards improving food nutrition of participating families.

• Replication of the experience in other cities and a creation of a national network of communitarian baskets for further political impact.


Organize urban consumers to access food that is economically, nutritionally and socially accessible. The aim is to have policy focus on the relevance of rural-urban linkages.

Agroindustrial Yacon recovery : Argentina


Objectives• Recovery of the Yacon crop• Added value to the product.• Establish an small rural agro

industry.• Improve farmers’ income.

Results• The number of producers has increased from 5 to 50 in 5 years.

• Tea, juice and pickeled yacón agro industry established.

•Inclusion of 8 women working in the cooperative.

CONCLUSIONS

• In these cases innovation:– Was market or socially driven.– In many of the cases was initiated by civil society

organizations but ownership overtook later by beneficiaries.

– Is aimed at recovering cultural capital as a way to build economic capital.

– Strategy to face the exodus of certain groups (i.e. youth) out of the community by giving them other economic alternatives (see short presentation on youth and innovation).

– Existing policies on innovation have not shown to have a relevant role in promoting the studied innovations.


Innovation for poverty reduction with inclusion in the Andean Region. Fernandez-Baca, Montoya,...

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