Is a multidisciplinary journal, born from the intersection between agricultural sciences, social sciences and humanities. It is focused on agri-food heritage, viticulture, agriculture, agro-industry, gastronomy, food cultures (art and culture) and their landscapes, from production to consumption.
On the origin of French fries: Evidence from Nacimiento, Chile 17th century
This article explores the possible mestizo origin of French fries, based on a reference contained in Cautiverio feliz, from the year 1673, by the Chilean soldier and chronicler Francisco Núñez de Pineda y Bascuñán. The testimony, dated 29 November 1629 at Fuerte de Nacimiento in southern Chile, is analyzed in the context of cultural exchange between Mapuche communities and Spanish colonisers, and may represent the earliest known written record of the preparation of fried potatoes—predating European references by more than a century. The research combines documentary and philological analysis of colonial sources, experimental reconstruction of culinary techniques, and collection of oral knowledge, contrasting these findings with the dominant European narratives of Belgian and French origin. Although no conclusive archaeological evidence has yet been found, the study proposes a mestizo–Mapuche hypothesis, challenging Eurocentric accounts of culinary innovation and recognising indigenous heritage as an active component of global gastronomic history. Finally, the article outlines new interdisciplinary research directions to test this hypothesis and to position Nacimiento as a potential heritage site in the world history of food.
Copyright (c) 2026 Gonzalo Rojas Aguilera, Javier Arredondo Encina https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Tourism training in rural settings: From Chiloé in Chile to Puerto Pirámides in Argentina
This paper aims to analyze training experiences related to tourism in rural contexts and identify the components that make these training spaces promote the development of sustainable community-based tourism in the region. In Patagonia, South America, on the Chilean side of the Chiloé archipelago. There, tourism in indigenous territories requires support from the identity and worldview that maintains the autonomy of their communities. On the Argentine side, in Puerto Pirámides, Valdés Peninsula, tourism associated with the southern right whale is emerging as an economic alternative and today plays a leading role in the national tourism agenda. With an ethnographic approach, this paper used fieldwork techniques, including participant observation, open-ended interviews, and analysis of various documents. We propose that training, education, and capacity building are fundamental pillars of the process in these communities. Only by being aware of their cultural heritage, which has been constantly developing throughout history, will tourism managers open the doors for tourists to explore realities other than those typically used to sell a tourist experience.
Copyright (c) 2026 Catalina Antognini, Natalia Muñoz Olivera https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Social “conbebencia”: Bars of Mexico City as spaces for alcoholic communion
The objective of this paper is to analyze cantinas as spaces for sociability and the preservation of urban memory. These spaces, in addition to the consumption of alcoholic beverages and food (snacks), build and strengthen social bonds through food and drink. This allows us to affirm that a communion is formed where commensality is expressed in terms of “conbebencia” (consumption). The latter is a linguistic expression and twist emanating from Mexico City’s popular culture regarding the libation of spirits in these places. It is concluded that these spaces for the circulation and consumption of distilled and fermented beverages, both traditional and industrialized, and the coexistence between diners, fall within the category of cultural heritage based on the diverse assessments made by the interviewees, as they are perceived as receptacles of a memory shaped by the interwoven stories of those who frequent them, as well as those who work there, which reveals changes and continuities in these sites that seek to survive the effects of gentrification and other urban transformations.
Copyright (c) 2026 Federico Gerardo Zúñiga Bravo, Enrique Martínez Velásquez https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Mezcal women: Profile and characteristics of their networks in Oaxaca, Mexico
The objective of this study was to analyze the ties and networks of trust among women involved in mezcal-related activities in Oaxaca, Mexico, as well as their challenges and opportunities for consolidating a support and collaboration network. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 28 women mezcal producers from the Central Valleys and Mixteca regions. The theoretical and methodological tool Social Network Analysis was used to represent their ties and calculate network indicators. The women were 41 years old on average, and 74% had a technical, secondary, or higher education level. The women's family and friendship networks were diffuse and disjointed; their technical trust networks were more structured but lacking in diversity. The network of potential collaboration to strengthen mezcal production revealed women with leadership and high dissemination coverage. The women have networks of trust and collaboration that facilitate their productive and reproductive work. These networks can be the basis for increasing their interaction and diversifying their links with other actors or people, which contribute to improving their access to information, financing, and market conditions in economic activity.
Copyright (c) 2026 JULIA SÁNCHEZ-GÓMEZ, JOALINE PARDO-NÚÑEZ, VENANCIO CUEVAS-REYES , MARISOL VÁZQUEZ-ALFARO https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Value Chain of Smoked Chili Pepper from Palmilla in Chile: Heritage and Biodiversity
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).
Copyright (c) 2025 Ximena Quiñones-Díaz, Roberto Fuertas, Diego Muñoz-Concha, Enrique A. Mundaca https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Gastronomy in Heritage Cities: Traditional Bread in the Culinary Experience
Bread is one of the fundamental pillars of the Mediterranean diet, representing a key component that enriches and gives character to local gastronomy. In Andalusia, and specifically in Córdoba, Spain, bread accompanies and is an essential component in traditional recipes that transcend the everyday, becoming an expression of cultural identity. This research set out to explore whether artisan bread can be considered a relevant element in the tourist's gastronomic experience, with the aim of generating useful knowledge for professionals in the catering sector and highlighting the value of local artisan production. The study was carried out in eight iconic restaurants in the historic centre of Córdoba, Spain, a tourist area recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A survey based on the Quality-Value-Satisfaction-Loyalty Model was used, followed by the PLS-SEM methodology. The results reveal that when bread is coherently integrated into the restaurant's culinary discourse, it becomes a symbolic resource that reinforces the visitor's emotional connection with the destination. Bread not only accompanies the meal, it completes and enhances the gastronomic experience, increasing the perceived satisfaction and consolidating the culinary identity of the place.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rocío Muñoz-Benito, Virginia Navajas-Romero, Ricardo D. Hernández-Rojas https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Conceptual Transition of Food Security: Paradigms, Current State, and Challenges
Food security is a globally relevant issue due to its impact on human well-being. The aim of this study was to analyze the conceptual development of food security through the various paradigms that have shaped its meaning over time, identifying its status and future challenges by means of a literature review. The findings reveal five dominant paradigms influencing its conceptualization. Despite being recognized as a multidimensional concept, a productivism approach continues to predominate. In response to these limitations, alternative perspectives such as food sovereignty have emerged. The study also identifies contemporary challenges, including inequality in food distribution, the climate crisis, and the need for sustainable agri-food systems.
Copyright (c) 2025 Josue Emmanuel León-González, Elva Esther Vargas Martínez, Ana Gabriela Cabrera-Rebollo, Alejandro Delgado-Cruz https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
General review of theoretical and empirical literature on entrepreneurship and ancestral knowledge
This research presents a review of the theoretical and empirical literature on ancestral knowledge and entrepreneurship. Its objective is to analyze the contributions made in this field from 1997 to 2025, providing information on entrepreneurship based on ancestral knowledge in Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, and illustrating its positive global impact. The methodology used consists of a systematic literature review in high-impact databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. The results highlight the growing academic interest in the relationship between ancestral knowledge and entrepreneurship, emphasizing key sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and handicrafts. Additionally, case studies are identified, allowing for a better understanding of the dynamics and economic value of these business models. Finally, the challenges and criticisms associated with the application of conventional business models in indigenous contexts are discussed, underscoring the need for strategies adapted to each cultural reality. This analysis contributes to the debate on the valorization of ancestral knowledge in entrepreneurship and its role in building more inclusive and sustainable economies.
Copyright (c) 2026 Mayda Alejandra Calderon Diaz, Sofia Ortiz Tinoco, Zuray Andrea Melgarejo Molina https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Artificial Intelligence in Precision Agriculture: trends and future directions
The demand for global agricultural production has led to the search for different tools that contribute to the optimal management of resources. This research presents a bibliometric mapping on the use of artificial intelligence in precision agriculture through the analysis of 479 articles published between 2019 and 2024 in Scopus and Web of Science databases, allowing to identify a higher scientific production in countries with strong technological investment. Artificial intelligence has revolutionized precision agriculture through the use of sensors, machine learning, robotics and predictive analytics, allowing to improve productivity, reduce costs and mitigate environmental impacts; which has allowed the development of research lines that include crop monitoring, early disease detection, smart irrigation and sustainable agriculture. However, adoption faces barriers such as the digital divide, high initial costs and limited technical training in rural areas; therefore, if a more efficient, resilient and inclusive agriculture is envisioned, a strategic, gradual and context-adapted implementation must be carried out.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Oscar Fabian Patiño Perdomo, Dr. Víctor Julio Balanta Martínez, Dr. Wilmer Arley Patiño Perdomo, Paula Andrea Sánchez Orozco, Dr. Jesús Emilio Pinto Lopera https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Local gastronomy: Cultural Identity and Social Cohesion in the Campina de Moche, Peru
This study stems from an interest in promoting actions to strengthen sustainable, inclusive economic growth and decent employment through the revaluation of gastronomic heritage as an element of cultural identity, social cohesion, and as a factor for the development of tourism; n this case, the setting is the Campiña de Moche (Moche Countryside) in the province of Trujillo, in La Libertad region, Peru. The overall objective was to analyze, based on scientific evidence, trends, information gaps, and proposals regarding the contribution of gastronomic heritage to the sustainable development of cultural tourism. A systematic review was conducted under the PRISMA protocol, using inclusion criteria such as articles published between 2020 and 2024, databases, keywords and thematic focus, research designs, and language. The study population included research that explored the relationship among gastronomic heritage, sustainable tourism, and rural development. The main results showed that local gastronomy strengthens cultural identity, increases tourist satisfaction, and promotes social cohesion. It was concluded that the integration of public policies and innovation in gastronomic products are key to maximizing the impact of sustainable tourism in culturally rich destinations such as Moche.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Eduardo José Campechano-Escalona, Mg. Isabel Cristina Díaz de Campechano, Dr. Manuel Peñalver Higuera, Mg. David González Espino https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Pollination studied as a common in Chilean beekeeping
Pollination is a regulating ecosystem service. Studies on commons analyses the various governance approaches that enable the successful management of territorially delimited, common-use resources. The research objective was to analyses beekeeping activity from the perspective of common goods, with a focus on framing pollination as one of them. This study is based on a qualitative analysis approach to account for the beekeeping countrywide scenario, from the perspective of different actors associated with it. The main findings reveal the practice of transhumance. Furthermore, even if transhumance is not practiced, bees always have flight autonomy and move beyond the territory where their hives are located. The main findings reveal the practice of transhumance. Furthermore, even if transhumance is not practiced, bees always have flight autonomy and move beyond the territory where their hives are located. This condition invites reflection on the expansion of the research of the governance ways in common goods, by considering some commons with their own agency, as the bees’ case.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ana María Alonso-Ferrer https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Peri-urban vineyards and cultural heritage: Continuity and transformation of Montevideo's wine landscape
This paper examines vineyards on the outskirts of Montevideo, Uruguay, tracing their development from their origins to the present, from the notions of cultural heritage and cultural landscape. Wine-making landscapes are thus understood as historic urban landscapes, agricultural landscapes and food landscapes. Based on a review of historical texts, specialized academic sources, and institutional databases, this article explores the formation, continuity, and transformation of Montevideo’s peri-urban vineyards. It offers a comparative study of the cultivated hectares, the number of wineries and the number of vineyards within the delimited area, considering both the intangible heritage of Mediterranean immigrant knowledge and the notion of cultural landscapes as a category that links productive materiality and the transmission of knowledge. The study argues that these vineyards form a cultural palimpsest, expressing identity and reflecting the tension between permanence and change.
Copyright (c) 2026 Amalia Lejavitzer, Manuel Rodríguez https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The agave: Cultural value, beverage production and associated biodiversity
The agave is an emblematic plant in Mexico with profound cultural, ecological, and economic value. There are approximately 210 agave species worldwide, 159 of which are found in Mexico. Its importance transcends its ancestral use to its role in modern industry. The states of Oaxaca and Jalisco are key to its use, particularly in the production of mezcal and tequila, respectively, while the central part of the country maintains the tradition of pulque. Beyond its economic importance, the agave is crucial for the conservation of biodiversity, supporting ecological interactions with organisms such as nectar-eating bats, birds, and insects, including maguey worms. However, this resource is threatened by overexploitation and climate change. To ensure its conservation, it is urgently necessary to implement sustainable management strategies that balance its economic use and the preservation of its biodiversity.
Copyright (c) 2025 Daniela Polo-Villalobos, Jose López-Collado, Alejandra Ramírez-Martínez, Salvador Partida-Sedas, Julio Vilaboa-Arróniz https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Type II sourdough with pineapple peel: Texture and nutritional effects
In baking, the textural and nutritional properties of bread are influenced by the type of leavening agent used, with sourdough being of particular interest due to its acidifying properties. This study employed a single-factor experimental design to evaluate the effect of adding pineapple peel flour at concentrations of 0, 12.5, 25, 37.5, and 50% on the acidity, pH, and counts of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts in type II sourdough prepared with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as well as its impact on bread texture and nutritional composition through a texture profile analysis and fiber content determination. The results showed that incorporating 50% pineapple peel flour into the sourdough increased the acidity of the leavening agent by 40% compared to the control. Additionally, a fourfold increase in fiber content was observed in the final product (4.05 ± 0.05%). The texture profile analysis revealed no significant differences in chewiness, indicating the feasibility of using pineapple by-products as a functional ingredient in leavening agents.
Copyright (c) 2026 Joel Andrés Pareja Saldaña, Oscar Mauricio Manzano Grajales, Alexis Garcia Figueroa, Cristina Ramirez Toro https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Label Design as a Communication Tool in the Wine Industry
This study analyses graphic aspects of red wine labels to determine whether they are related to quality and price. Eight designers were interviewed to identify the image guidelines they associate with low, medium and high-quality wines. The designers' opinions are then contrasted with those of wine consumers regarding the perception of wine quality and price based on the graphic design of the label. A questionnaire based on the guidelines obtained from the interviews with the designers was designed and answered by 202 consumers. Five questions related to the perception of wine quality and price from the wine label were analysed. The results reveal that there is a 40% coincidence between the image guidelines established by the designers and the perception of the consumers. In conclusion, the graphic design of red wine front labels plays a significant role in the perception of product quality and price for both designers and consumers.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dra. Marcela Beatriz Cabello Mora, Dra María de los Ángeles Ferrer Maravez, Dr. Juan Carlos Briede Westermeyer, Dr. Bernabé Hernandis Ortuño, Mg. Ruth Segovia Blanco https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Pedagogical action plan to strengthen the teaching of Ecuadorian teachers
This research proposed a pedagogical action plan to guide teacher training at the Babahoyo Higher Technological Institute. This plan is conceived as a pilot experience to develop strategies to strengthen the teaching process of Ecuadorian educators. To this end, teachers' level of pedagogical training and mastery of teaching resources were assessed, considering students' diverse learning styles and approaches. The results indicate limited application of pedagogical practices that integrate microcurricular tools, a reality consistent with the description of education in other technological institutions in the region. Therefore, from a constructivist perspective, it is essential that teachers acquire an adequate command of pedagogy and didactics, supported by the implementation of this pedagogical action plan, in order to improve the teaching process in Ecuador.
Copyright (c) 2026 Raul R, Veronica V, Rosa B, Steven A https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Characterization of Pulp, Seed and Peel from Sirindango (Renealmia alpinia), a Native Fruit from Putumayo
This study comprehensively characterized the nutritional and physicochemical composition of sirindango (Renealmia alpinia), evaluating its potential as a functional food and resource for future industrial applications. Based on the premise that this native fruit possesses significant nutritional and chemical properties that go beyond its traditional use by the Inga ethnic group, a comprehensive analytical methodology was implemented, including spectrophotometry, gravimetry, atomic absorption analysis, and specific volumetric techniques (Kjeldahl for proteins, Lane-Eynon for sugars). The results demonstrated that Sirindango is a valuable source of essential minerals, particularly its potassium (2890 mg/kg), magnesium (653 mg/kg), and iron (25 mg/kg) content, along with an exceptional nutritional profile that includes high protein content (19.32%), dietary fiber (1.53-3.50%), and stable acidic pH (4.62). These findings confirm its potential both as a functional food with superior nutritional properties and as a raw material for industrial developments in the food and nutraceutical sectors.
Copyright (c) 2025 Carolina Orozco Donneys, Julieth Abadia, Daniela Castellanos Montes, Diana Rosas Riaño, María Aleidy Chindoy https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Biocidal plant extracts in the post-harvest preservation of blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.)
In the last decade, Latin America has established itself as a leader in blueberry exports. However, it faces losses in the postharvest stage, estimated at 70%, caused mainly by pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum sp. and Rhizopus sp. The study evaluated the effect of biocidal plant extracts (garlic, Allium sativum; horsetail, Equisetum arvense; paico, Dysphania ambrosioides, and African milkvetch, Euphorbia tirucalli) on the incidence and postharvest shelf life of blueberries (V. corymbosum). Using a completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatments and three replicates, 150 fruits were stored at 7°C, taking 120 statistically representative fruits as a sample. The results of incidence and shelf life showed significant differences with Dunn’s test, with horsetail (0,003*), paico (0,025*) and African milkman (0,003*), with the exception of the control with garlic (0,055). On average, the control showed a 50% incidence followed by garlic (16,67%) and African milk (12,5%), while horsetail and paico showed no incidence (0%). Finally, according to the Barnett and Hunter keys, the pathogen present in the investigation was identified as B. cinerea.
Copyright (c) 2026 Juan Diego Sanchez Ramos, Roberto Mañuico Mendoza, Renzo Sebastian Lozano Sandoval , Naomi Brillith De la Cruz Vilchez https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Typification of Farmers in Paramo Buffer Zones in La Cruz, Nariño, Colombia
Typology development is a useful method for condensing the diversity of smallholder farming systems into representative types of operations. The study aimed to typify producers in the buffer zone of the Doña Juana Cascabel National Natural Park, located in the municipality of La Cruz, Nariño, in Colombia, in order to understand agricultural practices in an area facing environmental challenges and to help create more effective, comprehensive, and adaptable approaches for sustainable natural resource management in the region. Ninety-seven surveys were conducted between October and November 2023. The survey covered 110 questions, including sociodemographic, productive and agricultural management, environmental, commercial, economic, and associative aspects. Mixed data factor analysis (FAMD) was used to obtain the most representative variables. Then, using Euclidean distance and the Ward method in Rstudio V. 4.2.2 software, producers were grouped into three typologies: (i) conventional agriculture (52.58% of respondents), (ii) moderate agricultural diversification (41.24%), and (iii) sustainable intensive agriculture (6.19%). This study provides an updated classification of production systems in the buffer zone of the Doña Juana - Cascabel paramo complex, in addition to offering strategies tailored to the needs of the territory, constituting an important input in the decision-making of key actors in the region.
Copyright (c) 2025 Housseman Steven Ramos-Zambrano, Lizeth Tatiana Luna-Mancilla, David Rodríguez-Puertas, Juan Fernando López-Rendón, Diego Hernán Meneses-Buitrago, Lina Marcela Ríos-Peña, Diego Leonardo Cortés Delgadillo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Migration, wine, and tourism weave the history of Valle de Guadalupe
This study examines the influence of migratory waves on the development of viticulture in Baja California and their contribution to the rise of wine tourism in the Valle de Guadalupe. Viticulture dates back to the 17th century, with the arrival of the Jesuits, but it solidified in the 20th century, thanks to the Molokan Russians established in the region. In the 21st century, investment in vineyards and wineries transformed the region into an emerging tourist destination, with more than 120 wineries forming the Wine Route. This qualitative study is based on a review of historical sources and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. Results show that Spanish, Italian, and Russian migrations were decisive for the growth of the local wine agroindustry, consolidating wine tourism and integrating history and biocultural heritage.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nora Leticia Bringas Rábago https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Applying the rural territorial development approach in designing a regional policy in Atacama, Chile
Rural territorial development emerged as an evolution of regional economics and local development, emphasizing strategies adapted to the specific characteristics of each territory. Chile’s National Rural Development Policy, enacted in 2020, aligned with this perspective. In 2021, three pilot projects were implemented to develop regional versions of the National Rural Development Policy, including one in the Atacama Region, which is the case study of this research. The purpose was to examine the dynamics and outcomes of translating a national policy framework, based on the contextual approach of the rural territorial development, to a specific territorial scale. The methodology comprised the collection of field information to conduct a gap analysis and the formulation of a regional public policy proposal. The findings underscored the benefits of the rural territorial development approach in understanding the complexity of rural territories, while revealing challenges to its effective application.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sofia Boza, Gerardo Ubilla, Andrea Rengifo, Camila Jerez, Daniela Gatica, Macarena Espinoza https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Tabernas de Murcia: An approach to a traditional ethylic social landscape
The aim of this article is to carry out an analysis of the tavern as a traditional ethyllic social landscape, centred on the city of Murcia, Region of Murcia, Spain. The research is based on a sociological analysis of the book Tabernas de Murcia by José García Martínez and Manuel Muñoz Barberán. This publication, published in 1970, appears just at a historical moment when the process of economic and social modernization of the Region of Murcia, with the consequent structural transformations of the urban and rural geography, would lead this ethylic social landscape to its definitive crisis. It is concluded that the tavern is an ethylic social landscape defined by (i) its insertion in popular urban neighborhoods, based on family business and community networks, (ii) within a particular figuration between the urban space and the nearby wine production territory, (iii) with an identity that differentiates it from other hotel establishments thanks to its close links with the wine trade and supply, and (iv) in which a dense and diverse sociality develops around conversation and play.
Copyright (c) 2025 Andrés Pedreño Cánovas https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Access to land and transformations in cacao cultivation: An intergenerational analysis
Cocoa has been fundamental to Mexican culture since ancient times; however, in recent years, cocoa production in Mexico has declined, as evidenced by the reduction in cultivated areas. Access to land is crucial for rural household groups in southeastern Mexico, making it important to understand its relationship with transformations in cocoa-related activities over time. This article analyzes land access and its connection to changes in cocoa production activities across two parental groups, spanning five generations. The data were collected through genealogical and ethnographic methods during fieldwork periods between 2021 and 2024. The results show that bilateral inheritance is the primary means of land access. The process of land fragmentation reduces the available land for current rural domestic groups, which is linked to changes in productive activities related to cocoa. Agricultural activities are losing relevance, and livelihood strategies are shifting away from farming and cocoa production.
Copyright (c) 2026 Russell Sántiz-Tovilla, Eduardo Bello Baltazar, Erin I. J. Estrada Lugo, Adriana Alicia Quiroga Carapia, Obeimar Balente Herrera Hernández https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Understanding the functions of the National System of Agricultural Innovation in Colombia
There is a large and growing literature on the National Agricultural Innovation System (SNIA) in Colombia approach with very little attention specifically to the Latin American context, specifically in relation to the development of functions, given that from this perspective it is more viable to understand dynamic factors that affect the performance of sectoral innovation. This study aims to carry out a functional analysis of the National Agricultural Innovation System in Colombia, based on the perception of multiple heterogeneous actors, around systemic factors that restrict or promote the development of functions for innovation. Using a descriptive methodology, a survey was carried out on 51 actors grouped into four components, and based on three domains of questions: (i) types of functions performed, (ii) systemic factors that restrict, (iii) systemic factors that promote. Descriptive statistics were performed for the analysis. The results highlight the identification of systemic failures in the SNIA which affect the promotion of innovation. Also factors such as capabilities, interactions and territorial institutional presence, as the main determining elements of the performance of functions of the SNIA.
Copyright (c) 2025 Carlos Julián Ramírez Gómez https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The posh is good for everything: The curious rise of an alcoholic beverage from the Altos of Chiapas
The article aims to present the trajectory and upward mobility to which posh has been subjected, an alcoholic beverage that various intellectual agents have attempted to transform into a commodity symbol of the cultural and tourist circuits of the Chiapas Highlands, obscuring its dark path and replacing it with novel narratives that refer to the beverage's ancestry and spirituality. To shed light on its intricate trajectory, the controversial role it played in the economic, political, cultural, and social life of the region throughout the 19th century will be highlighted. Furthermore, emphasis will be placed on its gradual institutionalization in the civic-religious life of communities of tzotzil and tzeltal maya affiliation, the monopoly it was subjected to in the first half of the 20th century, and a source of power conflict between indigenous institutions, local authorities, liquor manufacturers, and the indigenous population. The article will present these dark trajectories and show the new life that has been given to the spirit in the era of neoliberal multiculturalism.
Copyright (c) 2025 Gustavo Sánchez Espinosa https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The world’s oldest Appellation of Origin? History and heritage in the construction of the Tokaj wine discourse, Hungary
Tokaj-Hegyalja is a historic wine-growing region located in northeastern Hungary, in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplen County. Since 2002, the Tokaj Cultural Landscape has been one of the wine-growing landscapes inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along with the Port wine Appellation of Origin (Alto Douro, Portugal), Tokaj shares the honor of being the oldest wine Appellation of Origin in the world. The role of history and its close relationship with cultural heritage have been one of the main pillars in the construction of both the region itself and the international image of Tokaj wine. In this article, we will attempt to analyze certain aspects linked to culture and heritage in the construction of this wine-producing Appellation of Origin and the international image of its wine. Through these thematic axes, we will be able to observe how the discourse built around winemaking in this Hungarian region connects with history, legend, local culture, and, ultimately, heritage in the construction of one of Europe’s most famous and important wines.
Copyright (c) 2025 F. Xavier Medina https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The new life of the fruit of the wild mother: Sociability as a heritage value of wine
This article first presents a reflection on a contradictory fact regarding the current social value of wine. Qualitative improvements in wine production and distribution processes are not leading to an increase in consumption, but rather a sustained decline. Secondly, based on the reality of a new hedonistic consumption, we argue for the need for wine to emerge as a cultural artifact that clearly enables sociability and collective memory, based on what is called here “the magic of 14°” and the communal effectiveness of what can be called “the point” or “the tone” in consumption. It is suggested that only by emphasizing on these heritage values of wine can its decline be avoided.
Copyright (c) 2025 JULIAN LOPEZ GARCIA https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Patrimonialization of agave spirits from Zapotitlán de Vadillo and Tuxpan in Jalisco, Mexico
The aim of this article is to describe and point out the main processes that activate heritage in agave spirits from southern Jalisco, Mexico. To achieve this objective, the case of two municipal brands is presented: Chacolo (Zapotitlán de Vadillo) and raicilla La Venenosa Sierra Volcanes (Tuxpan). A mezcal ethnography was conducted, focusing on the dynamics of what happens at production sites and in some mezcalerias, bars, and restaurants where the drinks are sold. Among the results, it was found that the main factor motivating the patrimonialization of aforementioned agave spirits is economic and commercial interests in the global marketplace. In influence order, the actors who build patrimonialization are: brokers, entrepreneurs, distributors, bartenders, mixologists, producers, and scholars. It is concluded that the artisanal characteristics of both spirits are the main reason for considering them as heritage. Linked to the artisanal particularities of both distillates, the intangible cultural heritage (the preservation of the knowledge behind the figure of the master tavern keeper) and the tangible cultural heritage (fermentation vessels, types of stills, alcohol content), and the biocultural heritage (geographical space and agave species) are those that deserve to be protected with the highest priority.
Copyright (c) 2025 Edwin G. Mayoral Sánchez https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Heritage, food and viticulture: The traditional vineyards of northern Tenerife, Spain
The centuries-old viticulture of northern Tenerife, which has created a unique landscape and cultural identity, is threatened by agricultural modernization. With the aim of valuing and preserving the traditional vine conduction systems in this area, this research adopts an ethnographic perspective, incorporating the perspectives of several actors in the field of viticulture and heritage management. The results show that, despite their historical-symbolic relevance, traditional conduction techniques are being replaced by modern vine conduction methods geared towards productivity and greater economic efficiency. At the same time, the case of the braided cord from La Orotava is explored, where agricultural modernization and respect for the social value of heritage have been integrated, establishing a precedent for the Tacoronte-Acentejo region. This study is based on an integrated vision of the approaches of the anthropology of food and the social value of heritage, proposing a neo-productivism reflection that integrates productive efficiency and cultural conservation in the wine sector.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mr. Francisco Nauzet Arocha Alonso, Dr. Eva Parga Dans, Dr. Pablo Alonso González https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Wine and heritage in the Cultural Water Landscape of the Ribeira Sacra in Galicia, Spain
The withdrawal of the candidacy of A Ribeira Sacra to the category of World Heritage in 2021 meant an impasse during the projects of articulation and confluence between wine production and tourism that have been developed in this area of Galicia since the last decade of the twentieth century. In 2024, the candidacy has re-emerged under the name of the Ribeira Sacra Water Cultural Landscape. We propose to reflect on the paths travelled so far, the dynamics generated, the agents involved, and the transformations suffered by some and taken advantage of by others. It will be essential to weigh up the scope and impact of the public policies implemented, as well as the responses of those administered. Attention will be paid to listening to and analysing the discourses generated and shaped by the different directions taken, which will be observed in a diachronic perspective, but placing them in the different circumstances that led to their appearance and/or disappearance. Understanding the centrality of wine in all these processes is decisive for a correct interpretation of the activation procedures of the surrounding heritage, as it has been its symbolic potential, combined with its economic benefit, which has acted as a driving force for the territory.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dra. Elena Freire-Paz, Dra. Marta Veiga Izaguirre https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0