An Overview Of Our Solution
By the salt flats in the southern Highlands of Bolivia, the only agricultural crop that can be produced is Royal quinoa. In recent years the intensification of quinoa production and the effects of climate change have accelerated desertification. To offset the process, PROINPA’s research team has identified 4 ecotypes of native lupin, 3 species of native grasses and 4 ecotypes of native bushes that contribute to soil regeneration and can be structured as habitats for beneficial insect fauna in organic quinoa production plots. The biology, reproduction and multiplication of these species was studied to design sustainable management strategies. Currently, 120 farmers are using living barriers, improved fallow and tandem planting with native species. The objective is to share the innovations and aid the scale up of sustainable ecosystem management in the region.
Who is this solution impacting?
Community Type
Rural
Additional Information
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: South America
General Information
Organization type
Nonprofit
Ecosystem (select all that apply)
Grasslands
Population impacted
120 farmers
Challenge
Size of agricultural area
300 ha
Production quantity
30 000 kg of Quinoa
People employed
6 people
Solution
Describe your solution
In a context where quinoa is the only crop that can prosper, the research team has identified 4 ecotypes of native lupin, 3 species of native grasses and 4 ecotypes of native bushes that contribute to soil regeneration. The biology, reproduction and multiplication of these species was studied to design ecosystem management strategies. After pilot testing and scale validation, PROINPA is currently promoting the use of the following practices in quinoa production plots:
• Establishment of living barriers with a combination of bushes and grass species, dividing quinoa production plots to reduce wind erosion and house beneficial insect fauna.
• Use of improved follow practices, through the establishment of lupin and grass species on former quinoa plots, to cover the soil in winter, produce green material as source of organic matter and restore fertility for the next planting season.
• Tandem planting – or time deferral inteplanting of lupin to obtain green manure and Nitrogen fixation, and interplanting of grass species to cover the land after quinoa harvest and produce forage for Andean camelids.
Practices have shown to reduce soil degradation, increase fertility, provide an enabling habitat for beneficial insect fauna, and provide forage for native fauna (vicugnas and llamas) using local biodiversity.
Implementation
Describe your implementation
Over 10 years PROINPA’s team has conducted research to identify alternatives for the sustainable management of quinoa production systems in the southern highlands of Bolivia. The process began with the identification of local biodiversity that can be used in the design and establishment of sustainable quinoa production systems. During this process, 4 ecotypes of native lupin, 3 species of native grasses and 4 ecotypes of native bushes were identified. Their biology, reproduction and role in the ecosystem were studied to design management systems. Later, different management systems were developed and piloted. To scale the use of successful strategies new technologies had to be developed. These include the design and adaptation of planting and transplanting equipment, recommendations for seasonality, among others. Finally larger piloting was implemented with 120 farmers in approximately 300 ha. The objective is to use this experience as a role model and the basis for further dissemination and scale up. To ensure the adoption of the proposed management practices, the process was established in compliance with the regulatory framework of organic production, and with the support of quinoa buyers. Throughout the research process, awareness was developed among farmers and other stakeholders of the quinoa production chain. Capcity building was implemented with farmers to implement the alternative management practices on their own quinoa production plots.
The largest challenge is now to involve and commit different stakeholders and particularly farmers in the scale up of this process.
External connections
The research was initially funded by McKnight Foundation and the Danish Development Cooperation. However, due to the promising initial results other stakeholders from the private and public sectors were involved in piloting the innitiatives, including: the Bolivian Camera of Quinoa Exporters and the Inter American Development Bank, 7 community organizations and the municipal governments of Uyuni and Salinas de Garci Mendoza.
At the moment there is a large pilot initiative in progress (120 farmers and 300 ha). The objective is to use this pilot to disseminate results among different stakeholders, particularly producer organizations and public sector actors working on environmental issues. Meetings have been held with the regional government of Oruro to explore the possibility of public funding for the use of native species in environmental services. Although no funding has yet been committed by the public sector, the objective is to continue developing awareness among farmers in order for them to demand more support for this process from public actors.
Results
What is the environmental or ecological challenge you are targeting with your solution?
In the southern Highlands of Bolivia, by the salt flats of Uyuni and Coipasa, due to the harsh environmental conditions (low rainfall, sandy–salty soils, occurrence of frost during production season, drought) and high altitude (3600 – 4100 masl), quinoa is the only crop that prospers. In recent years the intensification of quinoa production and the effects of climate change are accelerating degradation. Wind erosion is severe, soils are losing fertility and there is higher incidence of pest attack. The difficult environmental conditions make it extremely difficult to generate practical alternatives for sustainable soil and ecosystem management. Without corrective interventions, desertification is imminent.
Describe the context in which you are operating
Quinoa is a native indigenous crop of the Andes. It is important for the economy and culture of the Bolivian highlands, particularly for the regions of the south near the salt flats of Uyuni and Coipasa. It covers large extensions (2015: 40 000 ha), particularly in the southern highlands where 80% of the Bolivian quinoa is produced. With the increase in quinoa demand and scaling prices, 8000 smallholder families have enhanced their income and living conditions, and migration has reduced. However, soil degradation and a reduction in quinoa prices are threatening the sustainability of the system and all the actors involved in the quinoa market chain.
How did you impact natural resource use and greenhouse gas emissions?
Native plant species from the local biodiversity were studied, multiplied extensively re-introduced in the quinoa production system (living barriers, improved fallow, tandem or time deferral planting). This has affected positively the development of native insect fauna and has provided food for local wild cameloids such as vicugnas. The repopulation of soils with native plant species from the local biodiversity, the incorporation of organic matter and the fixation of nitrogen by native legume species, contributes also to the recovery of native microorganisms in the soils.
Language(s)
Spanish, Quechua and Aimara
Water
Some of the practices contribute to reduce wind soil erosion. Soil erosion in the highlands is one of the factors that contributes to river overflow in the lowlands. The production and incorporation of green manure will increase water retention capacity in soils, thus reducing runoff and improving water availability for plant development.
Food Security/Nutrition
Being quinoa the only food crop in the southern highlands, iimprooving its production contributes to income generation and access to food. Furthermore, due to the high nutritional potential of quinoa, its production contributes to enhancing the diets of local, regional and international consumers.
Economic/Sustainable Development
Quinoa production is the most important economic activity for over 8000 families of the southern highlands of Bolivia. The degradation of soils threatens the sustainability of production, income generation and food security. Without the possibility of producing quinoa, farmers will most likely return to increasing migration patterns.
Climate
The environmental benefits of the use of native species in ecosystem management practices include: Reduce wind erosion, increase organic matter and water retention capacity in soils, nitrogen fixation, establishing habitats for beneficial insect fauna and native camelid fauna.
Sustainability
Initially the solution is being supported by grant funding tut the objective is to gradually open the process to be supported by the public and private sector. At present the company Andean Valley is promoting the use of these management practices with the farmers that are part of their provider forces. With the alignment of the practices with the organic production regulations, the objective is to have organic farmers invest in the process. Negotiations are on the way to promote the support of the public sector. However, more lobbying needs to be conducted to ensure long term support.
Return on investment
The process has been implemented over a period of 10 years as part of other larger initiatives to support the quinoa market chain, with an estimated cost of 600 000$US. The pilot scale process of 120 farmers in 300 ha has had a cost of approximately 150 000 $U$ mainly due to the cost of equipment designed and built for large scale seed and plant production, planting and transplant. The estimated cost for replication will be 500 $U$/ha.
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Replication and Scale
How could we successfully replicate this solution elsewhere?
After the initial piloting and validation, scale up has been conducted with 120 farmers over 300 ha. Replica can be conducted over the area of influence of the salt flats of Uyuni and Coipasa in the sourthern highlands of Bolivia. This process would require awareness campaigns, capacitity building and lobbying with actors from the public and private sectors including: Municipal Governments, regional Governments of Potosí and Oruro, National representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Water, Producer Organizations, individual companies that buy organic and conventional quinoa, among others.