Characterization, conservation and participatory breeding
Conservation of agrobiodiversity in the hands of rural communities.
In 2020 we started a collaborative project with the support of CONACYT, which was the result of more than 20 years of research and work among the participants, it aims to promote and protect native maize in the hands of rural communities.
To be able to preserve and develop the biodiversity of native maize, it is essential to reassess the strategies used in the communities for generations, and strengthen the dialogue of knowledges. To this end, it was decided to collaboratively perform several actions such as the characterization and participatory breeding native maize varieties, fairs, seed exchange, in situ community and family seed funds , in addition to the promotion of the diversity of dishes from the milpa. We have the privilege of having the collaboration of organizations and universities in the regions of central, west, south and southeast of Mexico, whose presence is essential to the development of the project.
On September 24th and 25th, we carried out the first National Fair Farmer Seed Exchange in Cencalli, The Home of Maize and Center of Food Culture in Los Pinos, the former presidential house in Mexico City. We had the participation of peasant communities of 16 states of the republic, at least 200 people; we exchanged and we planted the seeds, there was a market for products and food of the milpa, roundtable discussions, workshops, dance and music.
https://www.jornada.com.mx/2022/10/15/delcampo/articulos/feria-nacional-semillas.html
What we are:
Until 2023 we have managed to build support for local funding and seed fairs, workshops, conservation and participatory breeding, in addition to support strategies for rainwater collection. Here you can read more about the progress:
Conservation of seeds Tlacotepec Plumas, Oaxaca
In this project we have the collaboration of ten organizations and universities across the length and breadth of the country:
- Unit of advocacy, training and linkage to the agri-food development in Mexico (AGROALIMEX), Huatusco, Veracruz.
- The Assembly of Indigenous Peoples ' Food Sovereignty; BC (APISAAC), Tlaxcala.
- The Front for the Defence of the Corn (FDM), Colima.
- The Network of Alternative Sustainable Farming (RASA) and the The Training center of Agroecology and Sustainability A. C. (CEFAS), Jalisco.
- Team Seeds and Genetic Improvement (ESMG) of the Faculty of Higher Studies in Cuautitlán of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (FESC-UNAM), State of Mexico.
- The Autonomous University Of Chapingo (UACh).
- Network of Schools Peasants of Chiapas (RECC).
- Network of Guardians of Native Corn (Regmaíz), Warrior.
- Service Development and Peace Huasteca Potosina A. C. (SEDEPAC), San Luis Potosí
- University for the well-being Benito Juárez García (UBBJG), Iztapalapa, CDMX.
- The Intercultural University of the State of Mexico (UIEM), state of Mexico, and Oaxaca.
- Interdisciplinary research centre in Biodiversity (CEIABio), Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico.
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