Chris Bacon (Principal Investigator) and SCU economist Bill Sundstrom recently received a National Science Foundation grant for $285,722 to study how small-scale farmers and communities in Nicaragua can develop environmental and economic resilience.
Two farmers in front on their home garden with fruit trees, forest and coffee in the background (Photo: PRODECOOP)
Nicaraguan farmers face droughts, hurricanes, and other extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change, crop diseases, food and agricultural price changes, Covid 19, and ongoing poverty. The research focuses on assessing crop diversification as a strategy to mitigate risk and build resilience by decreasing dependence upon a single commodity, increasing incomes, and using agroecology to manage biodiverse farms and improve harvests.
This participatory research with farmers will assess the impacts of new approaches to diversification on disaster risk, livelihood capabilities, food security, diet diversity, gender equity, water security, and food sovereignty.
Undergraduate research assistants will participate in data collection, analysis, and writing.