Six quinoa-producing communities in Peru have joined the 'Rewards for Agrobiodiversity Conservation Services (RACS)' Programme, an initiative of the Peruvian Ministry for the Environment (MINAM) with support by Bioversity International.
RACS provides benefits to indigenous communities managing native crop genetic resources on-farm.
11 September 2015: Six quinoa-producing communities in Peru have joined the ‘Rewards for Agrobiodiversity Conservation Services (RACS)’ Programme, an initiative of the Peruvian Ministry for the Environment (MINAM) with support by Bioversity International. RACS provides benefits to indigenous communities managing native crop genetic resources on-farm.
The RACS programme recognizes the value of farmers’ contributions to the conservation of agricultural biodiversity by providing incentives that compensate farmers for the cost and risks associated with efforts to maintain native varieties on their fields. The six quinoa-producing communities in southeastern Peru (Santa Maria, Sihuayro, Lacasia, Huataquita, Huaytahuancho and Macaya Piripirini) have pledged to continue cultivating a set of native quinoa cultivars that are at risk of being lost.
The RACS programme is implemented by MINAM under the auspices of its Euro Eco-Trade Programme, which aims to strengthen trade in organic products with EU countries. Bioversity International has been providing scientific support in the design of specific payments for ecosystem services (PES) schemes that support the conservation of crop biodiversity. Bioversity International is a member of the CGIAR Consortium. [Bioversity International Press Release] [Payments for Agrobiodiversity Conservation Services Webpage] [MINAM Press Release (in Spanish)] [Euro Eco-Trade Website (in Spanish)]