Perú: Potato Guardians Deliver Native Seeds to Strengthen Food Security

In a major effort to preserve Andean agrobiodiversity and enhance food security, the Association of Native Potato Guardians of Peru (AGUAPAN) and the Yanapay Group have distributed eight tons of native potato seeds from the highland district of Quilcas (Huancayo, Junín) to farming communities across five regions of the country.

Key Highlights

• Distribution reached communities and producer organizations in Junín, Huancavelica, Pasco, Huánuco, Áncash, Lima, and Cajamarca.
• The seeds come from native potato varieties cultivated and multiplied by the guardians themselves as part of a community-based conservation initiative.
• Each seed batch is a mixture containing up to 50–300 native varieties, maintaining the genetic richness of Andean potatoes.
• A significant portion of the delivery targeted schools, integrating seed conservation into educational programs to engage young generations.
• The project embodies the Andean principle of “ayni” — reciprocity — symbolizing mutual support and exchange between communities.
• The guardians are advocating for the Native Seeds Law to protect Peru’s genetic heritage and ensure the legal recognition of native seed systems.

Why It Matters

Native potatoes are a cornerstone of Peru’s cultural identity and global food diversity. This initiative reinforces:

1. Agrobiodiversity conservation – safeguarding thousands of native potato varieties adapted to diverse Andean climates.
2. Food security – ensuring smallholder farmers can access resilient, locally adapted varieties.
3. Cultural continuity – preserving traditional practices, seed mixtures, and intergenerational knowledge.
4. Youth education – connecting new generations to the cultural and nutritional value of native crops.
5. Policy advocacy – promoting legislation that recognizes and supports farmer-led conservation efforts.

Broader Impact

For global potato stakeholders — researchers, processors, seed companies, and policymakers — this project offers a blueprint for community-driven resilience. It highlights how traditional knowledge, biodiversity, and social cooperation can align to ensure a sustainable future for the potato sector worldwide.

As climate challenges intensify, initiatives like this remind us that diversity is strength — both in the field and within farming communities.

Source: argenpapa.com.ar/noticia/16688-