Co-creating a vision for the production system of La Montañita 20 years from now: A territory of food, biodiversity and hope

By: María Claudia López (Michigan State University), Luz A. Rodríguez and Antonia Correal (Pontificia Universidad Javeriana)

The development of bioeconomy alternatives in Caquetá offers the possibility to transform a territory currently dominated by pastures into places where forests used to stand and demonstrate the value of local identities and “campesino” livelihoods in the Amazon. Developing bioeconomies in this Colombian region implies reducing or eliminating deforestation, recovering soils and degraded ecosystems, diversifying products and adding value to Amazonian products, implementing sustainable practices in productive systems, strengthening of traditional Amazonian practices and equitable sharing benefits, and promoting women’s empowerment and integrating the youth into decision-making. In order to co-create a vision for the territory that holds these characteristics, in October 31^st and November 1^st, 2024, we held a workshop in the facilities of Agrosolidaria La Montañita, our local partners; men, women and young people were intentionally invited.

We implemented this workshop using scenario planning methodology[1], which allows for discussion of positive changes towards just and sustainable futures and aligns with the desire of the Low-emission Food Systems CGIAR initiative and, particularly, the component of the Living Labs for People, to transform the food systems in a participatory way while improving local development initiatives.

The workshop had the following objectives:

1. Identify a set of values that describe the community’s priorities for Montañita’s productive system.
2. Create a vision that outlines a desirable future for the system in 20 years.
3. Develop scenarios that present actionable steps toward achieving a transformational vision.

First, for the identification of the values, the group was split into a group of men and a group of women, as our interest was to understand what priorities they share, and wat aspects are different among them. We observed that women’s values are more centered in the productive dimensions of the system such as sustainable and organic production, innovation, and on the importance of women’s empowerment, women’s organizations and their role as environmental stewards, men’s values are more general statements, focusing on topics such as the territory, knowledge and legacy. Both groups coincide in the importance of social organization, of integrating the youth into the decision-making processes, and of protecting biodiversity.

Second, bearing in mind these priority values for each subgroup, they built visions of what the dreamed future would look like in 2044 and then, in agreement with both groups, the following general vision for the municipality of La Montañita in 20 years was structured.

In 20 years, Montañita will be a solidarity-based and biodiverse territory, founded on innovative, sustainable, and diverse farming systems that ensure food sovereignty. The land will be reforested, and water sources will be protected. Productive systems will include the transformation of local agricultural products and the use of the territory for ecotourism. A collection center will ensure the commercialization of a rich variety of products, ranging from bananas and sacha inchi to Amazonian fruits, derivatives of coca leaves and cacao. The organizations, including women’s groups, will be strengthened and have the resources to carry out their activities. Youth, women, and children will be empowered and deeply rooted in the territory, with opportunities to develop their life projects. Education will be practical and relevant. Both urban and rural areas will have adequate infrastructure (rural aqueducts, energy sources, roads, sewage systems) and the technology necessary to access markets and knowledge (e.g., internet).

Finally, through scenario planning, we moved from the vision to actionable pathways, considering the steps that both men and women believe that are necessary to achieve the vision, the changes that should be made at the household, farm, association, municipality, department and public policy levels, and the resources and partners needed to carry out these actions. Both men and women consider that it is necessary to recover and conserve ecosystems (avoiding cutting down and-burn processes), to have agri-environmental education and training, to develop incentives for young people to stay in the field and to develop process of women empowerment and an associative network of local consumption. Also, it aims to improve education, meet basic needs (improvement of roads, sewage system and aqueduct), involve youth and children in community life, get involved in politics, carry out local research and strengthen youth organizations.

The changes identified that need to be made at the household level include shifting patriarchal mindset regarding home responsibilities regarding care activities, valuing the work of women and promoting their empowerment, as well as facilitating spaces for dialogue. At the farm level, involving youth in decision-making and transforming production systems towards sustainability. At the community level, involving youth and women in leadership roles, and strengthening horizontal good governance. At the political level, they highlighted the need to improve infrastructure and public services, improve education and capacity building opportunities, provide financial incentives for local projects and innovation, involving the youth and children into the community life, and implement mechanisms to ensure accountability and transparency.

Inhabitants of La Montañita built a vision of a territory that is full of hope, biodiversity and safe and diverse food; a purpose that can be meet by making transformations at the household, the farm, the community and the political level that ensure environmental protection, women’s empowerment and equity, youth participation in decision-making and their involvement in community’s life. It also includes the construction of a local research agenda that provides the necessary information to make decisions and to monitor the progress in this transition towards a dreamt territory.

[1] See: Wentworth, C., Lembi, R., Hodbod, J (2021) Scenario Planning for Urban Agriculture in Lansing. Scenario Planning for Urban Agriculture in Lansing – Workbook – Department of Community Sustainability. MI: Department of Community Sustainability.

Lembi, R., Hammon, A., Wentworth, C., Hodbod, J., Goralnik, L. (2023) Lansing Urban Agriculture Scenario Planning. Visions for 2042. Lansing Urban Agriculture Scenario Planning: Visions for 2042. East Lansing, MI: Department of Community Sustainability. MI: Department of Community Sustainability.