Agroalimentary Heritage in Ecuador: Case analysis for the identification, characterization and conservation strategies of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems GIAHS for Food Sovereignty

Abstract

Agricultural and food dynamics of people and communities are the actual evidence of a co-evolution
human - environment, it means: the relations and links between ecological process
and socio cultural models, inside a certain territory. It happens not only for the reproduction of
Material life, but also for conservation and reproduction of symbolic, cultural and socio political
elements.
In that sense, it is necessary develop a broad comprehension of agriculture, not only as a
productive or economic activity, but also as the space for the local development, governability,
conservation – or not- of ecosystems, and the guarantee of fundamental rights: individual or
collective.
This paper tries to expose how identity, memory and heritage of agro alimentary systems in
Ecuador (at least 7) are important for food sovereignty of communities in their territories and
for the country. At the same time it tries to show the possibilities of dynamic conservation and reproduction of theses heritages