MicroAndes: Harnessing Microbes to Empower Andean Communities Micro-Producers of Fermented Foods

Duration

2 years

Lead institutions

KU Leuven

Universidad Nacional del Centro del Perú

Academic partners

Emilio Yabar Villanueva

Project status

Ongoing

Programme

Total budget

69,979.80

Summary

The project aims to empower Andean micro-producer communities (AMPC) by characterizing tocosh, a traditional fermented potato product, to provide evidence that can improve the quality and safety of this product. The pillars of this collaboration, between AMPCs, Universidad Nacional del Centro del Peru (UNCP) and KU Leuven (KUL), are scientific research, community engagement, and capacity building. The project aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 (No Poverty) and 3 (Good Health and Well-being), aiming to contribute to science in a manner that ensures fair benefit sharing among partners. Key activities include inclusive community-academia partnerships, taxonomic and functional characterization of tocosh, building capacity, networking, defining the basis for product improvement, and creating a model for fair community-academia partnerships. The evaluation of the project will be qualitative-quantitative to assess the impact of scientific production on community empowerment.