The agricultural engineering major and the “Casa Campesina Cayambe” Foundation (FCCC for its acronym in Spanish) presented the book “Alli Mikuy: alimentos saludables del pueblo Kayambi”, a book about ancestral knowledge, agro ecological practices and Andean cosmovision.

Under the Kichwa concept of Alli Mikuy, the book presents the experiences of women producers from the community of Kayambi and proposes sustainable production methods that allow us to care for the land, preserve biodiversity, and strengthen cultural identity. The text is a call to reconnect with Mother Earth and build fairer and resilient food systems.

The event began with welcoming remarks from Narcisa Requelme, a professor at UPS, who was there on behalf of Germán Arévalo, vice president of our branch campus in Quito. She spoke about the importance of these processes for university education: "Agricultural engineers should not only be trained to practice their profession, but also to serve the community. This project has been an opportunity for our students to connect with realities of the field and learn from the exchange of knowledge."

Father Javier Herrán, director of the FCCC, along with Charles Cachipuendo, a research professor at UPS and one of the authors of the book, spoke about the project. Both stressed the value of collaborative work between academia and communities to promote sustainable production and technological innovation for rural development.

The testimony of Hilda Villalba, a beneficiary farmer, explained the project's impact on community life: "Before, our lands were eroded and filled with chemicals; now they are they have irrigation and clean crops. This work has restored our dignity as rural women."

She also spoke about the impact sales: "Before, we sold at low prices in markets where our efforts weren't valued. Today, our products are recognized and appreciated in venues like Universidad Andina and other fairs in Quito."

Graciela Alba, a municipal councillor from Cayambe, highlighted the producers' contribution to the defense of nature: "You are the true wise women who have made this work possible, asserting the rights of Mother Earth and food sovereignty in the territory."

Sergio Pilataxi, co-author of the book, explained the collective dimension of the book: “This book captures daily practice and knowledge passed down from generation to generation. It is a real alternative to address the climate and humanitarian crises we are experiencing.”

The event ended with a speech by Marcus Burri, representative of JUWE – Jugendhilfe Weltweit, the organization funding the project, who confirmed his support: “Alli Mikuy demonstrates that international cooperation, when coordinated with academia and communities, strengthens sustainable and long-term processes.”