IHS is happy to share the news of the publication of a co-authored book chapter: Co-producing urban and peri-urban agriculture in Andean countries, written in collaboration with our alumni Jaime Hernández-García (Colombia) and our PhD candidate Tannya Pico Parra (Ecuador). This chapter is part of the Handbook of Transdisciplinarity: Global Perspectives, edited by Roderick Lawrence and published in May 2022 by Edward Elgar Publishing.
What is the book about?
Within the pages of this comprehensive Handbook, readers will explore the interpretations and applications of transdisciplinary approaches across the globe. By delving into the depths of this field, it aims to enhance our understanding of the capabilities and boundaries of transdisciplinary research, particularly within the context of societal power dynamics, institutional frameworks, and social inequities.
According to Lawrence (2023), the Handbook not only presents global perspectives about transdisciplinarity but also fills a gap in the literature on this vast subject. It connects and communicates between those who adhere to transdisciplinarity in different cultures, who publish in diverse languages, and who work in various domains, contrasting with the Anglo-Germanic perspectives that have dominated the related contributions until now. Moreover, transdisciplinary is now closely linked to community-driven efforts that extend beyond academic circles. It encompasses citizen science and collaborative projects aimed at collectively understanding and effectively addressing intricate situations and enduring issues.
Tannya's and Jaime's contribution
In chapter 26, Jaime Hernández-García and Tannya Pico Parra discuss projects on local food production in urban and peri-urban agriculture in Bogota, Quito, and Lima, three cities located in the Andean region. These projects integrate various knowledge cultures, including Indigenous knowledge and local cultural customs, emphasizing the significance of collaborative practices and conflicting perspectives on socio-ecological change.
Jaime and Tannya advocate for the concept of 'critical translocalism,' which emphasizes the integration of knowledge and expertise as a fundamental aspect of transdisciplinary initiatives. Urban agriculture, a collaborative cultivation process, serves as a nature-based response to prevailing socio-economic crises, particularly affecting disadvantaged households. In addition to supplying fresh food, it fosters social cohesion and promotes land utilization. This phenomenon is not confined to formal residential areas or informal settlements in the Andean countries but has global implications. Consequently, comparing these cases can shed light on both local and international similarities and differences at the local, national, and regional levels.
