Programa. Mocoa -24

Abstract

The central theme of this program is coca as food and food sovereignty in the Amazon. It focuses on a community leader's experience and local practices, rather than formal institutions. However, some institutions relevant to the topic can be inferred, both at the local and national level. An interesting proposal was presented on the use of the coca leaf as food and its potential to improve food security and health in the Amazon region. Don Nelson Enríquez, a community leader and expert in Amazonian products, shared his knowledge and experience on the cultivation, processing and consumption of coca for nutritional purposes, highlighting the high calcium content in the coca leaf and its potential to prevent diseases. such as osteoporosis; the benefits that the coca leaf has in culinary uses where various recipes and products made from coca were presented, such as cookies, cakes, drinks and flour; In this way, the importance of promoting local food production and food security in the Amazon region is emphasized with the practice of sustainable and environmentally friendly cultivation techniques, such as agroforestry and crop rotation, with the respective challenges that local producers face, such as lack of institutional support and the stigmatization of coca. In conclusion, this radio program "Voices and Regions" offers a valuable contribution to the debate on food sovereignty and rural development in the Amazon. By highlighting the potential of coca as a food and as a driver of local development, the program invites critical reflection on current policies and practices.