PeachPalm4LIFE

Bactris gasipaes or peach palm is the only domesticated palm species in South America. It holds high cultural and nutritional value for Indigenous communities in the Amazon, a region facing significant threats from global change. Peach palm is a multi use neglected species that offers food, materials, and medicine. Despite its potential, peach palm remains underutilized due to economic constraints, social stigma and limited research, particularly in Ecuador. PeachPalm4LIFE adopts a transdisciplinary approach, integrating Indigenous knowledge, research, and policy to co-create sustainable solutions for peach palm valorization in the Upper Amazon in Ecuador, south Colombia, and north Peru. We aim to understand the social-agro-ecological systems linked to peach palm, exploring its genetic, cultural, and ecological diversity, and addressing challenges in its sustainable cultivation and valorization. By collaborating with ecuadorian Indigenous communities, research institutions, NGOs, and the private sector, PeachPalm4LIFE will co-develop innovations, implement sustainable practices, and create educational materials to raise awareness. The project’s work packages are designed to address specific challenges. WP1 will co-construct research on cultivation challenges, opportunities, and biocultural indicators using participatory workshops with Indigenous communities. WP2 will infer the genetic, cultural, and environmental diversity of peach palm in the Upper Amazon through fine scale genome-wide genetic studies and socio-cultural surveys. WP3 will identify the genomic basis of fruit diversity, describe the pollination ecology, and evaluate cultural management of peach palm at the community level. WP4 will evaluate, test, and implement innovative sustainable solutions, integrating policy, community education, and outreach. This project aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and contributes to food security and resilience for Amazonian Indigenous communities.