Spring 2012

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Food sovereignty and home gardens in northern Nicaragua
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012-03) Boone, Karie, speaker; Unidentified speaker
Central America stands out not only for its great concentration of endemic animal and plant species, but also for its large variety of climates and ecosystems. This biodiversity has historically contributed to rich soils for agricultural production that allow local farmers to create and sustain their livelihoods. However, impacts of climate change are expected to decrease productive capacity of coffee and staple crops that farmers depend on to meet their daily caloric needs. Non-governmental organizations and participatory researchers share concerns about increasing food insecurity in local communities due to the impacts of climate change on coffee growing regions throughout Nicaragua. As a potential strategy to mitigate the projected negative impacts of climate change while affording more farmer control over their food system, home gardens are being promoted by development organizations in this region. This presentation will share preliminary findings from my research on home gardens as a potential food sovereignty strategy. I will ask if farmers are interested in achieving food sovereignty and if home gardens are an effective strategy for doing so. I give an overview of a model for international collaborative conservation, highlighting my encounter with the model's challenges and opportunities in practice.