Tropentag 2022, September 14 - 16, Prague, Germany "Can agroecological farming feed the world? Farmers' and academia's views."

"Sin Pan No Hay Paz": Food sovereignty and (post conflict in the rural Colombia. The case of El Valle de Tenza, Boyacá

University of Bonn, Center for Development Research - ZEF, Germany

Abstract

Social conflicts and internal wars affect food sovereignty. One of the main consequences of conflicts globally is hunger, especially in rural areas. Conflicts also affect decision-making, control, and use of resources in food production systems, which are essential elements of food sovereignty. This research addresses the link between food sovereignty and the armed social conflict in Colombia. The main objective is to identify the direct and indirect effects of the internal (post) conflict on the smallholder farmers' decision-making about their food production systems. The rural Valle de Tenza in Colombia is taken as a case study. The study consists of three main dimensions of research work. Firstly, identifying actors, institutions, and practices in the decision-making process with a focus on gender power relations. It is followed by identifying the effects of the armed conflict, which have influenced the smallholder farmers' decisions on their food production systems. The last dimension addresses the impact of public food policies and strategies on the region's traditional food production systems and consumption habits.

This research considers food sovereignty and food security concepts equally helpful for hunger worries, especially in poor and rural societies. The theoretical framework builds based on the Coloniality of Power theory and the food regimes analysis, and the conceptual approach is based on Food Sovereignty. This study uses participatory research methods, including semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions for data collection. This research is currently in the data analysis phase after seven months of fieldwork in the Tenza Valley supported by Fiat Panis and MinCiencias.

Considering Tropentag's academic space, I will present the preliminary results and research design. Finally, understanding the consequences of the armed conflict on food sovereignty contributes to formulating strategies under the current peace-building framework in Colombia. Furthermore, this study seeks to contribute significant evidence to the current global debate about food sovereignty and conflict.

Keywords: Coloniality of power, conflict, decision-making, food regimes, food sovereignty

Contact Address: Daiana Castillo, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research - ZEF, Liblarerstr. 70, 50321 Brühl, Germany, e-mail: s5dacastuni-bonn.de