Conventional Milk Production and Other Alternatives on Smallholder Farms in the Central and Northern Highlands of Ecuador (Phase 2)

This project addresses the need to discuss and quantify the economic, environmental, and social relevance of conventional, integrated, and organic milk production models within family farming (AFC) in the Ecuadorian highlands. The study aims to bridge the gap between biased academic training and the lack of environmental impact analysis by producers, who prioritize economic profitability often relying on external inputs. The methodology involves the detailed characterization of nine conventional farms, selected by altitude zone and land size in the El Pisque river basin, through monthly collection of productive parameters and laboratory analyses (soil, water, milk, pastures). Furthermore, farms with previously identified integrated and organic models in Pichincha, Cotopaxi, and Carchi will be characterized, gathering baseline data and irrigation efficiency information. The final objective is to establish sustainability indicators validated by experts (Delphi Panel) and, through statistical analysis of the systematized data, identify the determining factors guiding each system toward sustainability, disseminating the results to producers and decision-makers to reorient public policies.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>To characterize conventional, integrated, and organic milk production models in the central and northern Ecuadorian highlands to identify key factors guiding these family farming systems toward sustainability.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>Sustainability of dairy production systems