Co-Creating Soil Maps: A Participatory Approach to Strengthen Indigenous Agriculture in Ecuador

Faculty Mentors

Dr. Troy Wiipongwii and Dr. Sapana Lohani

Project Description

A team of W&M students is invited to learn from and with Chichupamba clan and other Indigenous partners in Cotacachi and Puyo, through a partnership between the IIC and Kinray Hub, a community-driven research organization in Ecuador. Kinray Hub, formerly known as K’allam’p, is an indigenous-led nonprofit research organization. Kinray Hub strives to create an ecosystem in which culture, climate, science, and technology serve as dynamic and interconnected mechanisms to build a more sustainable and just society. Working as part of a team of Indigenous communities, farmers, and students, W&M undergraduates will engage in a unique field-based learning experience codesigning a soils map that will support Kinray Hub's efforts to bridge Indigenous knowledge systems and scientific research to promote regenerative agriculture and climate resilience in the Andes and Amazon regions.

Working alongside the Chichupamba clan and other Indigenous partners in Cotacachi and Puyo, students will co-design a participatory soil mapping initiative. This project integrates Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with Indigenous ecological knowledge to create a detailed soils map that supports agroecological planning and community-based education. Students will explore how local communities interpret and use spatial patterns of soils to inform sustainable agricultural practices, enhance food security, and conserve biodiversity. Through participatory research methods—including knowledge exchange, community workshops, and field mapping—participants will contribute to a collaborative process aimed at preserving traditional agricultural knowledge and advancing climate-resilient land stewardship in Ecuador

Prerequisites and Required Skills

Proficiency in Spanish, respect for and appreciation for learning from communities and cultures different from yours, and commitment to self reflection are required. Background in soil ecology would be amazing, but not required.

No prerequisites.

Travel Required

Travel to Ecuador to work with students, local communities, and scientists to codesign a soils map. This will involve staying at the Kinray Hub field station, hiking in variable conditions to collect data on soils, and working alongside local farmers and Indigenous community members to codesign and inform the soils map.

Notes for Applicants

This is a great projects for students who are excited to learn and self-reflect, who are flexible, and who are passionate about agriculture and diverse perspectives on agriculture.

Project ID - Format

26-004-26 - CRP Year