Science and ancestral wisdom united: AGROSAVIA and the Kerakar Indigenous Reserve of the Emberá Chamí transform knowledge into bountiful harvests

Campoalegre, Huila. July 29, 2025. Campoalegre, rice capital of Huila, where the Emberá Chamí community is writing a new story. They no longer only dream of tomorrow—they cultivate it with their own hands. Among the green furrows of plantain, the land gives back more than just seeds: it offers life, nutrition, and a sacred dialogue between science and ancestral knowledge. AGROSAVIA is planting the future here, transforming the countryside with the power of science and the democratization of knowledge.

In a world that demands urgent answers for agriculture, the Colombian Agricultural Research Corporation – AGROSAVIA, in strategic alliance with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is transforming realities in Huila. Their commitment: to bring concrete solutions where they are most needed. The "Plan for Linking Technological Offerings in Plantain" is much more than an agricultural project. It is a bridge between cutting-edge scientific knowledge, the ancestral wisdom of the Kerakar Reserve of the Emberá Chamí Indigenous community, and the region’s nutritional urgency.

"Through an innovative plantain-centered production system, the aim is to strengthen food security and the production of high-quality seeds. Additionally, as a nutritional complement to this productive system, the AGROSAVIA ROJO 43 biofortified bean was planted between crop rows—a bush variety with indeterminate growth, tolerant to drought. This bean is recognized for its excellent nutritional quality, with a notable concentration of micronutrients such as iron (74.3 – 120 ppm) and zinc (26–55 ppm), as well as a protein content of 24.3%. On the other hand, the dual-purpose yellow grain corn variety V-117 offers a yield of 5.3 tons per hectare and nearly 37 tons per hectare of forage. This variety shows good disease resistance, with only a 2% risk of cob rot. Additionally, pumpkin—commonly known as squash—is a highly nutritious food that provides numerous health benefits, serving as an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and E, as well as essential minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and fiber.

The first harvests of beans and squash have already been collected, providing food for the children, men, and women of the Emberá Chamí community. This achievement represents the realization of the first goals set out in the Plantain Technological Offerings (OT) Linking Plan, established in collaboration with this population," emphasized Eliseo Polanco Diaz, master researcher and project leader.

Meanwhile, in the rapid seed multiplication tunnels, where plantains germinate vigorously, water no longer depends on the whims of the weather. Thanks to the installation of an irrigation system, every drop becomes guaranteed life, strengthening the growth of future plants. In turn, the mother orchard does more than just provide seeds—it sows hope. Its bunches, laden with fruit, will nourish not only entire families but also future generations.

It’s not just about research—it’s about action. About bringing concrete solutions to the land, about merging technology with tradition, and ensuring that each scientific breakthrough translates into better harvests, greater food security, and stronger communities. Here, in Campoalegre, farming is no longer just labor. It is science, it is tradition, it is the future. The KERAKAR Reserve of the Emberá Chamí community, with the land in their hands, stands as proof that another world is possible.

But this doesn’t just remain on paper. In the fields of Huila, the results are already visible: more efficient production systems now prevail, there is greater diversity in family diets, and crops are more resilient to the changing climate. AGROSAVIA does more than research—it acts. Every improved seed, every transferred technique, is a firm step toward a Huila with food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture.