Bolivia: Llamas, Quinoa, and Andean Food Sovereignty

Bolivia’s agricultural diversity is shaped by its extreme geographical contrasts, ranging from tropical jungles and subtropical cloud forests to the arid Altiplano plains. These varied climates foster an agricultural landscape that is both unique and highly adapted to its environment. Before the arrival of the Spanish in 1531, indigenous communities in the Andean region, particularly within the Incan Empire, developed advanced agricultural practices to navigate these diverse ecosystems.

The Andean farmers used sophisticated techniques to maximize their use of the land, maintaining fields at different altitudes to take advantage of varying microclimates. They built terraces and raised beds to conserve soil, water, and resources. This collective management of land sustained over 15 million people, providing a wide array of food, including grains, roots, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and nuts.  https://archive.foodfirst.org/publication/food-sovereignty-and-the-quinoa-boom-challenges-to-sustainable-re-peasantisation-in-the-southern-altiplano-of-bolivia/