Value chain of smoked chili pepper from Palmilla in Chile: heritage and agrobiodiversity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35588/6xhzvx07Keywords:
Cultural heritage, Agrobiodiversity, Horticulture, Rural economyAbstract
Conservation of biodiversity in local species and landraces is essential for food security, yet it is threatened by climate change, loss of traditional agricultural practices, and inadequate conservation efforts, among other causes. This study hypothesizes that peasant communities form value chains based on heritage cultivation and processing practices, which contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. The objective is to provide empirical evidence through the case of smoked chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) processed in zarandas (traditional sieves) by the peasant community of Palmilla in Linares, Chile, and its relationship with the conservation of chili landraces. To carry out this study, an interdisciplinary participatory action research approach was conducted, and data was collected through a memory workshop, focus group, participant observation, and in-depth interviews with farmers and other value chain stakeholders. The results highlight the heritage nature of this tradition, which constitutes the core of a dynamic and ongoing value chain in which families implement diverse upgrading strategies. Furthermore, knowledge and practices related to seed selection and preservation remain in use, which are vital for the conservation of biodiversity—understood here as a biocultural heritage composed of both material elements (seeds) and intangible ones (knowledge and practices).
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Copyright (c) 2025 Ximena Quiñones-Díaz, Roberto Fuertas, Diego Muñoz-Concha, Enrique A. Mundaca
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