La souveraineté alimentaire en Uruguay

This case study describes the activities of the national network of indigenous and local seeds in Uruguay, focusing on its role in promoting food sovereignty and agroecology through seed preservation, community distribution, and political advocacy for the National Agroecology Plan.

• The national network of indigenous and local seeds in Uruguay consists of over 350 small family farms and more than 500 farmers across 14 of the country's 19 departments. Founded in 2002 with REDES-Friends of the Earth Uruguay and the faculty of agronomy of the National Public University of Uruguay (UDELAR), the network aims to reduce dependence on corporate-controlled seeds by reviving, multiplying, and exchanging local seeds.
• The network preserves a diverse range of genetic material, including more than 70 species and over 300 varieties, primarily consisting of aromatic, medicinal, and vegetable plants. To maintain this living reserve, farmers who receive seeds commit to reproducing them for the network.
• The network was a primary promoter of Uruguay's National Agroecology Plan (PNA), a law adopted in December 2018 to promote agroecological food production. However, as of June 2020, REDES-Friends of the Earth Uruguay reported that the plan's implementation was stalled under the new right-wing government that took power on March 1, 2020, and urged the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries to appoint leadership for the Plan's Honorary Commission.
• Farmers in the network employ various agroecological techniques to ensure sustainability and health. These include air and sun-drying seeds in vacuum-sealed bags to prevent pests, using organic fertilizers such as animal manure, poultry litter, and on-site compost, and applying bio-inputs like nettle slurry or effective indigenous microorganisms. Other practices include crop rotation, the use of 'green manures', and following the lunar calendar for planting and harvesting.
• During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, network members provided seeds and food to community kitchens, unions, and street fairs in several departments, including Montevideo, Canelones, Paysandú, Treinta y Tres, and Maldonado. Specific examples include the Aldea Avatí cooperative in Canelones, the El Ombú collective in Paysandú, and the Los Parientes collective in Treinta y Tres.

APA

admin (2020). La souveraineté alimentaire en Uruguay. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/fr/la-souverainete-alimentaire-en-pratique-en-uruguay/

Chicago

admin. La souveraineté alimentaire en Uruguay. Friends of the Earth International, 2020. https://www.foei.org/fr/la-souverainete-alimentaire-en-pratique-en-uruguay/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=admin |title=La souveraineté alimentaire en Uruguay |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=11 August 2020 |url=https://www.foei.org/fr/la-souverainete-alimentaire-en-pratique-en-uruguay/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{admin2020souverainet, author = {admin}, title = {{La souveraineté alimentaire en Uruguay}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2020}, month = aug, url = {https://www.foei.org/fr/la-souverainete-alimentaire-en-pratique-en-uruguay/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }