Sustainable Rural Development Based on CFS-RAI Principles in the Production of Healthy Food: The Case of the Kayambi People (Ecuador)

Food production faces significant economic, social, and environmental challenges. The Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture (CFS-RAI), aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), provide a framework for implementing actions and investments in sustainable food production. Farmers are the primary investors in their agricultural activities, playing a fundamental role in the sustainability of rural territories. This study aims to analyze the rural development innovation system implemented by the Fundación Casa Campesina Cayambe and its alignment with the CFS-RAI principles and SDG. Focusing on 129 women producing healthy food within the Kayambi people and adopting a mixed-methods approach, including participant observation, interviews, and focus groups, the research examines the integration of public institutions, academia, and civil society in promoting sustainable rural development. The findings indicate that key innovation processes include a participatory, community-based, and gender-sensitive microcredit system implemented by the Foundation. Additionally, the technical and scientific support provided by the Universidad Politécnica Salesiana enhances investment capacity and knowledge acquisition, strengthening both individual and collective capacities for food production and commercialization. The study concludes that a decentralized and coordinated cooperation system, involving multiple territorial stakeholders, fosters the economic autonomy of female producers while adhering to the principles of CFS-RAI and the SDG.