Work

Agrobiodiversity as the central axis of territorial management: a participatory sustainability framework supporting underutilized and climate-resilient Andean roots and tubers in Peru's agrobiodiversity zones

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Underutilized and climate-resilient roots and tubers are foundational to Andean food systems, but their persistence depends not only on genetic resources and breeding, but also on seed circulation, farmer preferences, diets, markets, governance, livelihoods, and cultural transmission. This study developed a sustainability-monitoring framework for Peru’s Agrobiodiversity Zones (ZABD)—collectively governed territories dedicated to the in situ conservation and use of native agrobiodiversity—and obtained participatory evidence related to the content and face validity of its indicator set. A sequential mixed-methods design was implemented in two stages. First, experts from Peru’s Agrobiodiversity Technical Group assessed 67 candidate indicators across six pillars: consumption and markets, production systems, genetic resources conservation, governance, livelihoods, and culture. Multicriteria assessment and deliberative refinement produced a 30-indicator core. Second, 120 farmers, community authorities, and management committee members from four ZABD in Apurímac assessed indicator relevance and comprehension; each territory also produced consensus rankings within pillars. The overall Relevance Validation Index was 80.71/100 (95% CI: 77.46–83.79), and the Comprehension Validation Index was 78.61/100 (95% CI: 74.61–82.28). Internal consistency was high for relevance ( α = 0.915) and comprehension ( α = 0.947), and both assessments were strongly associated ( ρ = 0.862; p < 0.001). Agreement between the expert ranking and the four territorial consensus rankings was perfect for livelihoods and high for culture, but low and inverse for consumption and markets. These results support the content and face validity of the indicator core while revealing territorial differences in comprehension and priority. A prototype Sustainability Index for Agrobiodiversity Zones (IS-ZABD) was parameterized on a 0–100 scale; however, no territorial sustainability values were calculated. The framework complements crop-specific assessments by making visible the ecological, economic, institutional, and biocultural conditions supporting Andean agrobiodiversity.

Source: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2026.1972964

Authors: Cristina Quintana Palacios, Natalia Estrada-Carmona, Carlos A. Amasifuen Guerra, Diego A. Sotomayor

Institutions: Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Alliance Bioversity International - CIAT, Bioversity International, National University Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza

Language: English

Topic: Sustainable Agricultural Systems Analysis

Subfield: Environmental Chemistry

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,353