Agroecology and collective health Lab

We are facing deepining inequities and destruction of life resources which generates hunger, ecosystem degradation and change climate. Oligopolies of soil, water, seeds and genome; the use of large land extensions not to feed humans, the global epidemic of overweight and obesity and toxic components in food.

We propose an intercultural and transdisciplinary platform to develop  advanced research, teaching programs and political advocacy in order to implement scientific and technical tools which are necessary for promoting  transitions from conventional food production practices to agro-ecological climate friendly systems in order to protect health of peasants and consumers. We generate experimental research and scientific evidences of agricultural production systems in our laboratories: Center for the evaluation of impacts on collective health and the environment.

Our potential is the multiplication of agroecological transition experiences based in innovative models processes, sicentific evidence and intercultural  action research supported by ethic laboratories. Watch our lab:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOxhtBMOtNY&t=75s

According to FAO, more than 68 % of the South American surface is affected by erosion: 100 million hectares of land were degraded by deforestation and 70 million due to overgrazing. Desertification strikes 55 % of the vast Northeast region of Brazil. In Argentina, Mexico and Paraguay, more than half of the territory suffers from problems related to degradation and desertification. In Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru, it is estimated that between 27 and 43 percent of the territory suffers from desertification problems.

At the same time malnutrition has become a serious situation in terms of obesity and being overweight. For every person who suffers from hunger, more than six people are overweight. 

Our solutions:

1. Scientific research supported by experimental and comparative designs in our laboratories and empirical work in different rural areas. 

2. Experimental research system for agroecology and collective health training (SEICAS - Experimental Farms)

3. Social markets through university canteens, neighborhood fairs, restaurants and hospitals in order to conect rural spaces and cities.

4. Teaching through our program "Alimentación y Transformación Social" (Food for social transformation)

Some of our activities here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOxhtBMOtNY&t=11s

We are a scientific and practical approach to generate a national demonstration experience around the modeling and transformation of agro-ecological productive spaces, the provision of healthy, sustainable and fair food markets to urban spaces and the promotion of intercultural health in Ecuador. 

As we are commited to action for these transitions, we generate research processes about multiple contamination in productive spaces and toxicity of food by agrotoxic agents, hormones, heavy metals and genetically transformed components wich affect the health of children, their mothers, peasents and consumers.

We develop research in experimental farms, we design teaching programs for other professionals in food field, social markets models with peasent women's associations and farmers. We create food policies with urban consumer movements. 

We have completed the first transition from conventional food production to agroecological one. Currently this is a center that serves as a reference for research and demonstration in organic food production and marketing that brings together several researchers.

We have three targets:

Farmers associations in Cayame, Tabacundo, Machala and Quito (towns and cities) where awareness processes are developed; seminars and talks on the decrease in the use of agrochemicals in agriculture. Also for technology transfer to support transitions and generate changes in local government policy.

Students and techers who are consumers of our university canteens which are provided by agroecological production through the agro-ecological fair that takes place in the University´s campus. Urban consumers who buy agroecological food from agro-ecological fair.

Teachers and researchers in food studies which take our teaching programs in ecological studies or food, economics and politics, agroecological production, sustainable diets, eating disorders, comunication for food transitions.

Our vision is to expand our agroecological transition modeling around diferent regions in Ecuador, developing research and education programs  about dangers of monoculture and helping peasants to implement unique sustainable farms where the soil will not degrade, while taking care of natural resources, respecting the characteristics of each territory and its microsystem. 

Our modeling has been adapted to generate a faster and more direct suplly chanels between producers and consumers, since Covid 19 lockdown heat South América. We have promoted the importance of healthy eating for facing this pandemic and the oportunity of agroecological food systems as a healthy process.