From traditional agroecology to modern practices: the cultivation of native potatoes in the Peruvian Andes

Aguirre-Sosa J.; Dextre M.L.; Vargas-Merino J.A. · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems (2026) · DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2026.1855079

Resumen

Introduction – Native potatoes represent the biocultural heritage of Andean farming communities. Since their origins, they have been cultivated using agroecological terrace farming systems in the Peruvian Andes. This study analyzes how a community is transforming the traditional agricultural system of native potato cultivation in the mountains of Ayacucho through a contemporary model of sustainable development. Methodology – An ethnographic immersion study was conducted in the indigenous community of Condorcocha (Ayacucho, Peru), which produces native potatoes, with the aim of understanding the dynamics of the social fabric that emerges from the interrelationship between culture, cosmovision and the land, as processes inherent to local production systems. Results – The ethnographic analysis identified ten categories organized into three interrelated dimensions: strategic-commercial, associated with planning, value creation, and mutually beneficial strategies; ecocultural, linked to green leadership, ancestral knowledge, and agroecological innovation; and social, characterized by gastronomic partnerships and community cohesion. In summary, these dimensions explain how local actors are transforming their traditional agricultural system through the conservation, promotion, and sustainable commercialization of native potatoes. Discussion – This study demonstrates that the ancestral agroecological engineering inherited from pre-Inca and Inca civilizations—which integrates terraces, soil management systems, seed conservation, crop diversity, and community organization—constitutes a living and active system in today’s high Andean communities. This historical continuity demonstrates that biocultural heritage can be successfully integrated with contemporary production and marketing strategies, strengthening biodiversity conservation, food security, and sustainable development, in accordance with the Andean principles of reciprocity and respect for Pachamama. Copyright

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Universidad Privada del Norte