Dissemination of biologicals in the Andes

Document and disseminate the processes and impacts

Context of the story

The Andean region is characterized by multiple ecosystems with different climatic and geomorphological conditions that have generated great genetic diversity. These ecosystems have suffered deterioration, among other factors, due to the excessive use of agrochemicals, creating alterations to the environment and human health. Based on this problem, years ago FONTAGRO financed the project FTG-7075/07 - "Development of biologicals for the sustainable production of vegetables with small farmers for food sovereignty in the Andes" that generated strains of microorganisms and isolation and selection protocols of biocontrollers, biofertilizers and inoculants for the production of vegetables in the Andean region.

Document and disseminate the processes and impacts of the project

The Implemented Initiative

The goal of the initial project was to search for solutions based on nature itself, in particular the development of biofertilizers, biofungicides, biopesticides and growth promoters. The alliance between three organizations with proven capacity and direct links with family farmers allowed the validation of new products with the potential to replace the traditional ones generated by chemical synthesis. Most of these products can be produced locally by communities or specialized small businesses. The CIP created a germplasm bank with 171 strains identified at the molecular level together with isolation protocols for each microorganism; It also developed evaluation tests for biofertilizers and biofertilizers.

Technology transfer

The technological solution

There is growing concern about the use and abuse of agrochemicals in the Andean region and in particular about the deterioration of the soils that sustain historic productive processes. The latter have suffered erosion, loss of organic matter, low microbial activity and low water retention capacity. The project consisted of the dissemination of information on the development and use of biofertilizers, biofungicides, biopesticides and growth promoters with the potential to replace the traditional ones generated by chemical synthesis.

“A participatory space was built with the organizations of small producers that were part of the biologicals development process.”

— Noel Ortuño

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Type of project

Integrated Pest Management

Sustainable intensification

Strategy 1. Resilient farms

Results

- Up to 20% increase in yield due to the use of biofertilizers and biopesticides in onion, potato, lettuce, tomato, corn and quinoa. - Twenty protocols for the evaluation, isolation, reproduction of beneficial microorganisms for agriculture. - Informative brochures on the management and use of beneficial microorganisms. - Seven scientific articles