ALC co-organizes Mexico-Nicaragua learning exchange on smallholder coffee farm diversification
ALC members Ernesto Méndez, Martha Caswell, and Janica Anderzén spent last week in Chiapas, Mexico, exchanging experiences and ideas around livelihood diversification, agroecology, and Participatory Action Research (PAR) in smallholder coffee communities of Mesoamerica. The week was both exciting and inspiring as coffee producers, academics, representatives from coffee buyers and NGOs from Mexico, Nicaragua, and the US, reviewed two and a half years of participatory action research, and set the course for next steps. This was the 2nd Farmer-to-Farmer Exchange within a 3-year PAR project on livelihood diversification in smallholder coffee systems, co-led by ALC, Santa Clara University and the Community Agroecology Network (CAN). Attendees included representatives of smallholder coffee cooperative partners Cesmach SC Oficial (Mexico) and Prodecoop (Nicaragua), the Community Agroecology Network (USA), the Universidad Nacional Agraria – Nicaragua (Nicaragua), el Departamento de Agricultura, Sociedad y Ambiente, Ecosur(Mexico), UVM/ALC (USA), Equal Exchange (USA), and Food 4 Farmers (USA). #agroecologyandlivelihoodscollaborative#uvm#cesmachoficial#prodecoop#communityagroecologynetwork#ecosur#universidadnacionalagragia#equalexchange#food4farmers#participatoryactionresearch#gundinsitute
ALC team members Alejandra Guzman (Post-doc) and Janica Anderzén (PhD candidate) prepare materials for the exchange Getting started in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, MX Presenting findings Group work Sharing agrobiodiversity from Mexico and Nicaragua Coffee and maize in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas Doña Leticia shows a ‘quelite’, an edible wild plant that grows in the shade coffee farms of Chiapas The PAR cycle in Mexico Seed exchange Discussing the PAR cycle in Nicaragua Visit to the community of Zapata Coming together in the community of Vista Alegre Preparing the seed exchange workshop CESMACH coffee The PAR cycle in Nicaragua