Peruvian smallholder farmers have practiced Indigenous farming methods for maintaining and developing their family’s unique collection of native potato seeds for centuries. Through their farming practices, they naturally preserve their seed and potato varieties, but also slowly help evolve them over time. It’s this preservation coupled with evolution that’s critical to biodiversity—and biodiversity is critical to resilience, especially in the face of climate change.

The guardians’ efforts have endured, but challenges from both climate change and a globalized food system that has traditionally overlooked the critical contributions of small-scale farmers like Peru’s remain.

This article documents how Community of Practice sustains and provide support to potatoes guardians, and reserchers to grow indigenous knowledge, livelihoods, and power. It also shed light on the aim of the 20th anniversary of the Andes Community of Practice to reflect on the wonderful stories of their collective accomplishments, and celebrate the impact of their work with people and the land.