Local and indigenous knowledge systems in the Peruvian Andes: turno cultivation in the Campesino communities of Huancachi and Quilcas

Introduction The Local and Indigenous knowledge systems of campesino communities in Peru reflect the altitudinally diverse and extreme climates of the Andean mountains and support the ancestral system of ‘turno’ cultivation. Adapted over generations alongside local and Indigenous knowledge systems, turnos support biodiversity conservation, food security, climate resilience and cultural continuation. The ability of communities to respond to increasing external threats and maintain autonomous and resilient food systems will depend on their ongoing practice and engagement with the processes through which knowledge is produced, reproduced and adapted. As communities experience increasing climate and development pressures, turno systems of production are eroding, threatening the processes of production, transmission, and adaptation of local and Indigenous knowledge systems. Methods This study presents findings from research conducted from June 2023 to March 2024 with the campesino communities of Huancachi and Quilcas, recognized for their native potato biodiversity and continued use of turnos. Using the framework of autopoiesis informed by Relational Systems Thinking, we examined how relationships between culture, worldview, and land embedded in turno cultivation sustain local and Indigenous knowledge systems to understand how these relationships support food security and food sovereignty and identify the impact of environmental change and assimilation pressures on these systems. The study followed a Participatory Action Research approach and a mixed-methods design, including surveys and Focus Group Discussions, and was conducted collaboratively with the communities of Huancachi and Quilcas. Results Results highlight the growing influence and impact of external actors on Indigenous lands and resources but demonstrates how social and reciprocal relationships between community members support the production and reproduction of Indigenous knowledge to mediate responses to environmental change and buffer against assimilation pressures. Discussion Strengthening the relational foundations of these systems can enhance Indigenous autonomy and self-determination, offering resilience pathways amid external pressures on Indigenous lands and resources. To support ongoing production and reproduction of local and Indigenous knowledge systems, communities require both access and control over land, which will depend on the formation of equitable relationships between communities and external actors. While this study is limited to two Andean communities, results and approach may provide a framework to shape future research and action.