| Résumé |
Abstract : «The establishment of quinoa on the international market was associated with a significant change of the Bolivian production system. Such a change involved both the structure of producer associations and the agricultural practices implemented, which defined new agroecosystems gradually showing environmental and socioeconomic issues. In this framework, particularly during the 90s, the quinoa sector was characterized by the establishment of Fair Trade supply lines regulated by standards ensuring environmental and socialsustainability. The evaluation of the environmental dimension of Fairtrade standards has so far received little attention by the research community even though environmental issues, particularly soil fertility reduction, are considered to undermine the sustainability of quinoa agroecosystems. This paper, therefore, presents the preliminary collection and analysis of soil related data including soil fertility assessment and soil management practices implemented in the municipalities of Colcha K, Tomave and Salinas de Garci Mendoza in the Southern Bolivian highland, currently considered as a spot highly vulnerable to environmental degradation. The present study, thus, contributes to develop an integrated soil related database at the community level that provides a baseline for the long term-assessment of environmental impact of Fairtrade standards applied to quinoa production. What is more, it supports the design of ad hocmeasures to be implemented both at farm and producer organizations level with the aim of enhancing soil fertility and environmental sustainability.»
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CDTM de Paris
Centre de ressources sur le commerce équitable
