AGROSAVIA strengthens peach palm conservation and production in partnership with indigenous and afro-descendant communities

Tumaco, Nariño. July 21, 2026. With the aim of safeguarding the genetic heritage of peach palm or chontaduro (Bactris gasipaes) and enhancing its productive value across Colombia’s Pacific region, AGROSAVIA’s El Mira Research and Technology Transfer Center conducted an important knowledge transfer workshop on June 24.

The activity, carried out within the framework of the Germplasm Banks Promotion Plan (Field Conservation – Plant Germplasm Bank), provided an opportunity for knowledge exchange with the Oripap Indigenous community. This collaborative learning space seeks to help local producers understand the conservation processes implemented within the National Peach Palm Collection, a strategic genetic resource that supports food security and regional development.

Applied Science for the Territory

During the workshop, AGROSAVIA’s researchers presented the key technical processes currently implemented at the El Mira Research and Technology Transfer Center, including:

Propagation techniques: Implementation of both sexual and asexual propagation methods to support species multiplication.

Crop management: Protocols for germplasm characterization, technical harvesting, and genetic data management and preservation.

This collaborative effort represents a strategic response to the phytosanitary challenges that have historically affected peach palm cultivation in the region. "Our goal is to develop participatory strategies to expand peach palm cultivation across our territories. By combining scientific knowledge with dialogue with Indigenous communities and Afro-descendant community councils, we aim to restore the crop's strategic importance to the local economy," stated the El Mira research team.

 

Toward Productive Reactivation

The partnership between AGROSAVIA and local communities seeks not only to facilitate technology transfer but also to strengthen the region’s social fabric. The medium-term objective is to establish scalable collaborative models that can be replicated across other community councils, enabling peach palm to once again become a driver of sustainable development throughout Colombia’s Pacific region.

Through these initiatives, AGROSAVIA reaffirms its commitment to science serving agriculture, promoting agrifood resilience and enhancing the value of native species that shape the identity and future of Colombian agriculture.