Horticultural practice and germplasm conservation: a case study in a rural population of the Patagonian steppe

CECILIA EYSSARTIER; ANA LADIO; MARIANA LOZADA

Food Security

SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS

Lugar: London; Año: 2015

1876-4517

Cultivating land promotes the connection of people with their environment, fosters socialization with others, and most importantly, offers necessary food resources for sustenance. The general aim of this study is to evaluate the current situation with respect to horticultural and gathering practices in a rural, isolated population of Northwest Patagonia, located in an extremely harsh environment, and explore implications for food security. We investigated whether vegetable-gardens and gathering wild plants improved household food security and nutrition, thus helping locals deal with their hostile circumstances. Several aspects related to horticultural practices that could contribute to resilience in this remote community were examined, such as gathering own seeds, cultivation areas, crop diversity, common uses of cultivated and gathered plants, biogeographic origin of cultivated species and seed origin. We also explored seed collection in relation to perennial and annual plants. Perennial plants may be short-lived (only a few years) or long-lived, as are some woody plants such as trees. The present study shows the importance of local food production and germplasm conservation, associated with horticultural and gathering practices in an extremely isolated population settled in a harsh arid environment. Vegetable-garden cultivation is a resilient strategy that favors food security in this community, which has limited resources and little institutional support. Moreover, due to their restricted access to markets and, local food supply systems, collecting their own seeds is crucial for enabling sustainability and food sovereignty. This case study shows how horticultural practice can foster food security in communities facing hostile socio-ecological conditions.