Bolivian Challenge: Compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals from the Indigenous Peasant Agrifood System

Abstract

Bolivia has been through a protracted period of social stability combined with a boom of the prices of its main exports. This resulted in an increase in construction, improvement of transport links, and more consumerism, particularly of imported food products. The COVID-19 pandemic showed the weaknesses of these advances: urban employment fell, particularly in the informal sector, affecting rural immigrants; the health system collapsed, the education system had to stop, and markets closed, forcing thousands of families to return to rural communities in search of a roof, food, and medicinal herbs. Nevertheless, conditions in these areas have not improved as family farming is losing ground to food import and contraband, while agribusiness moves towards biofuel production and the use of genetically modified crops. The challenge is to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: if family farming can move forward, through support in innovation, technical assistance, transformation, among others, Bolivia will move towards the achievement of several SDGs, including SDG 1: End of poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 5: Gender Equality and SDG 10: Reduction of inequalities.