Cropping Systems and Management Practices to Increase Food Security and Mitigate Climate Change in the Andean Region.

The Bolivian Altiplano, an important part of the Andean Region in South America, is a plateau of about 200,000 km², and it is considered one of the highest agricultural areas in the world with an average altitude of 3900 m.a.s.l. Current environmental conditions are harsh, and existing climate models predict that in the near future these will probably worsen and become unsuitable for agricultural and livestock activities. Under this scenery, sustainable adaptation measures are essential for maintaining and increasing food security. This paper reviews and synthesizes findings from two studies conducted in two different ecological areas in the Bolivian Altiplano. In the first study, different options of water, soil and crop management were identified in a micro basin located in the Northern Bolivian Altiplano. In the second one, deficit irrigation for improving quinoa yield was tested in the Southern Bolivian Altiplano.  In both sites, future climate scenarios were estimated using historical climate data, and adaptation measures were identified. Main conclusion for both studied shows that cropping systems adaptation need to be addressed in a broader perspective, and a set instead of individual adaptation measures should be implemented.