Two farming traditions in Chile have joined a global list of sites recognized for their rich history and resilience. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently named these two areas—one stretching across the high Andes and another in the southern Pehuenche mountains—as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems. Their inclusion shines a spotlight on the Indigenous communities who have kept ancient food and herding practices alive, even as the landscape tests their resourcefulness.
In the dry northern highlands, Aymara, Quechua, and Likan Antay families look after llamas and alpacas and tend fields of local crops like quinoa, maize, and potatoes. It’s not easy—the weather swings wildly and water’s scarce. Yet, these farmers rely on time-tested techniques like rotating where animals graze and sharing water through traditional rules. The community works together, with women leading efforts to save seeds and pass food wisdom to the next generation.
Further south, Mapuche-Pehuenche families keep homegardens brimming with vegetables and medicinal plants. They collect piñones, the edible seeds of ancient Araucaria trees, for food and for ceremonies. Every summer, livestock trek up into cooler pastures. Here, respect for nature and shared work are at the heart of a system that ties community to the land.
This announcement brings Chile’s tally to three celebrated sites and puts Latin America at eleven across five countries. The FAO says there are now 104 such systems worldwide, each one valued for blending tradition and innovation. These honors come after years of local and international partnerships aimed at safeguarding farming customs.
The FAO’s heritage program isn’t just about the past—it’s looking ahead. By strengthening these farming communities alongside local governments and organizations, the goal is to keep their culture and sustainable ways of growing food alive for many years to come.
