Valuing local culture, maintaining identity, safeguarding native and local seeds, producing and consuming native and local products, promoting local farmers’ markets (Qatus) and practicing food sovereignty to improve the diet of small farm families were collective proposals presented by women from Puno, Cusco and Apurímac at the First Inter-Regional Encounter of Women Leaders for Food Sovereignty, a macro-regional event organized by the Departmental Association of Farm Women of Puno (Asociación Departamental de Mujeres Campesinas de Puno, ADEMUCP), in coordination with the Small Farm Federation of Puno (Federación Campesina de Puno), with support from Heifer Peru.

The two-day event drew more than 300 women leaders who demanded food sovereignty, the safeguarding and protection of their territories, the conservation of their natural resources, and the recovery and conservation of the biodiversity of crops, medicinal plants and native fruits, as well as the strengthening of organizational capabilities and leadership with gender equality. They discussed problems related to globalization, free trade agreements, transnational food companies that promote the consumption of transgenic foods, and the inequitable distribution of wealth. In their proposals, most acknowledged the need to change the bad dietary habits encouraged by the global food system and promote Andean products. They also agreed that local governments, educational institutions, NGOs and farm organizations must work together to conserve biodiversity and safeguard food sovereignty.