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Agroecology and Health: Lessons from Indigenous Populations

  • Global Environmental Health and Sustainability (W Al-Delaimy, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The article aims to systematize and disseminate the main contributions of indigenous ancestral wisdom in the agroecological production of food, especially in Latin America. For this purpose, it is necessary to ask whether such knowledge can be accepted by academia research groups and international forums as a valid alternative that could contribute to overcome the world's nutritional problems.

Recent Findings

Although no new findings are being made, the validity of ancestral knowledge and agroecology is recognized by scientific research, and by international forums organized by agencies of the United Nations. These recommend that governments should implement them in their policies of development, and in the allocation of funds to support these initiatives.

Summary

Agroecology and ancestral knowledge are being adopted by a growing number of organizations, indigenous peoples and social groups in various parts of the world, as development alternatives that respond to local needs and worldviews. Its productive potential is progressively being recognized at an international level as a model that contributes to improve the condition of people regarding nutritional food.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge that they have not received any financial support for this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fundacion Cimas del Ecuador, Ave. Los Olivos E14-226, Quito, Ecuador

    José Suárez-Torres & Dolores López-Paredes

  2. Family Medicine and Public Health, California State University San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr #0725, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA

    José Ricardo Suárez-López

  3. Ave. Los Olivos E14-226, Quito, Ecuador

    Hilario Morocho

  4. Fundacion Cimas del Ecuador, Comunidad de Kotama, Otavalo, Imbabura, Ecuador

    Luis Enrique Cachiguango-Cachiguango

  5. Juan de Ascaray 377 y Amazonas, Quito, Ecuador

    William Dellai

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  1. José Suárez-Torres
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  2. José Ricardo Suárez-López
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  3. Dolores López-Paredes
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  4. Hilario Morocho
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Correspondence to José Suárez-Torres.

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Conflict of Interest

José Suárez-Torres, José Ricardo Suárez-López, Dolores López-Paredes, Hilario Morocho, Luis Enrique Cachiguango-Cachiguango, and William Dellai declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Suárez-Torres, J., Suárez-López, J.R., López-Paredes, D. et al. Agroecology and Health: Lessons from Indigenous Populations. Curr Envir Health Rpt 4, 244–251 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-017-0146-z

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