Authors: Gabriela Gonzales Faria, Gonzalo Lizarralde, Benjamin Herazo, Lisa Bornstein and Sara Latorre
Conference: IV Symposium Ibero-African-American on Risks Global Processes and Vulnerabilities: Threats/Risks and Local Strategies.
From 21 to 23 of July 2022
Francisco José de Caldas District University, Colombia (Online)
The presentations seeks to understand the socio-cultural dynamics that influence bottom-up initiatives to establish and maintain urban orchards as a strategy to face food insecurity in uncertain times. The research fields are in “Argelia Alta” and “La Lucha de los Pobres”, two neighborhoods of informal origin and vulnerable to the effects of Climate change in Quito, Ecuador . Both have public and private spaces and are home to individual and collective efforts to generate alternative food systems during the pandemic . What factors promote (or impede) these initiatives and the food security of those residing in informal settings? Quantitative data were obtained from government reports while qualitative data were collected through 9 interviews to residents, 5 interviews to experts, and four focus groups with residents and community leaders. Results show that there are common tensions between participation and management of urban orchards. Collective action in alternative food systems is challenged by difficulties to integrate stakeholders, regulations, and lack of resources to coordinate efforts. But it is also encouraged by traditional practices such as mingas, which have social and cultural value among residents. We identified four main variables at the core of these tensions: land tenure (private or public), regulations adopted during the pandemics, food and urban policy and collaborations. Residents are in constant debates about the advantages and disadvantages of generating individual or collective solutions to food security. A better understanding of these tensions is required to reinforce alternative food systems in the region.
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