Recognizing rural territorial heritage: characterization of Andean tuber production systems in Boyacá

In the municipalities Ventaquemada and Turmequé (Boyacá- Colombia), we identified 20 small agricultures by their production systems including the following Andean tubers: Ullucus tuberosus Caldas (ulluco), Oxalis tuberosa Molina (oca), and Tropaeolum tuberosum R. & P. (Mashua), which were important in their family meals and culture, however, their use has declined and the area has not seen research and development processes that provide alternatives for handling, conservation, use and marketing, and now are at the risk of disappearing. This research conducted participatory assessment processes for the characterization of production systems and initiated reassessment processes of territorial heritage, identifying common sub-farm agrobiodiversity and projects for these traditional Andean tuber crops in order to enhance the special and knowhow knowledge surrounding the production.