The Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian –LACIS– Studies program and the Department of Plant and Agroecosystems Sciences are excited to host Genaro Vásquez, an Indigenous academic from Oaxaca and co-founder of the Ayuuk Intercultural Institute.

He will offer two seminars on February 6 & 7, 2024 (next Tuesday and Wednesday). These events are free and open to the public.

Mexico biocultural heritage and the defense of native maize (talk will be in English, with translation assistance from Claudia)

When: Tuesday, February 6 at 3:00 PM

Where: Room 473, Plant Science Building | 1575 Linden Drive

Summary: For over 10,000 years, Mexico has been at the center of the domestication of corn. However, the advent of the green revolution and other extractive economic policies poses a threat to Mexico by extracting and appropriating both knowledge and biological resources. This jeopardizes the traditional livelihoods of communities and Indigenous territories that share intricate connections with corn, relying on native varieties as a staple crop in their diets and as a way of life. In response, various movements and projects have emerged to actively resist and defend this precious biocultural heritage.

The agroecological movement in Mexico and the role of Indigenous people in the face of global crisis (talk will be in English, with translation assistance from Claudia)

When: Wednesday, February 7 at 2:30 PM

Where: Room 1420, Microbial Sciences Building | 1550 Linden Drive

Summary: Agroecology stands as an alternative paradigm, a science and a global movement, unfurling its banner of resistance against corporate driven food systems across both rural and urban landscapes. Agroecology is a contested realm, caught in the struggle and tensions between commercial agriculture and subsistence farming. In this seminar we will talk how for certain Indigenous communities, agroecology transcends a mere movement; it embodies a way of life, fostering hope in a world grappling with crises.

If anyone in this message is interested in meeting with Genaro, please email Claudia Irene Calderon at cicalderon@wisc.edu to coordinate.