2025 HLA Fall Seminar
Dennis Geoffrey Macedo Valdivia
Professor and Co-director of the Arequipa Nexus Institute
Universidad Nacional de San Agustin de Arequipa, Peru
Thursday November 6, at 3:30pm,
HORT 117 or via Zoom.
Soil Quality, Crop Safety, and Human Health: Organic Agriculture as a Model for the Colca Valley, Peru
The Colca River Valley in southern Peru is a popular tourist destination due to its dramatic landscapes, rich cultural traditions, and unique habitat for the iconic Andean condor. The valley also has a strong agricultural industry thanks to the formation of pre-lncan terraces that improved soils and now help to retain heat and water in this cool and hyper-arid environment. However, farmers struggle to remain profitable due to volatile market prices, soil degradation, pests, and altered precipitation patterns. One way to help address these challenges is to transition to organic production systems.
To support this goal, we surveyed local farmers and evaluated the health of their soil to identify specific challenges. Based on the results of this survey, we initiated on-farm participatory research trials in open-field and greenhouse-like structures in October 2024. The primary goal of these trials is to identify local amendments that can restore soil health, stabilize toxic heavy metals, more efficientiy manage nutrients, and reduce the incidence and severity of pests. Quinoa, faba bean, tomato, squash, and red clover are being evaluated in these trials. The farmers, local community members, and agronomy students have been actively engaged in plot establishment maintenance, and evaluation of the health of the crops at harvest. We will provide an overview of what we have learned so far, including the initial challenges identified, and how the amendments have altered soil and crop health. We will also discuss the benefits and challenges of conducting on-farm participatory trials in this unique environment