Short Name: OASIS

Type of organisation: Civil society co-constructed research project of applied science

Website / Social Media link:

OASIS website
IRD Website

Crop sectors: Beekeeping, mixed crops

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The city of Quito and Cotopaxi region, Equador

Actors involved: Local farming communities in the Cotopaxi region (more than 200 families), PUCE (Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador), SWISSAID, IRD (Institute of Research for Development). Additional partners: CESA, Cotopaxi Prefecture, MAG, MIC, HEIFER, INABIO.

Area of expertise: Agroecology, Integrated pest management (IPM), Pollinator management, Ecosystem services, Agricultural resilience

Presentation: The OASIS project is designed to create pesticide-free territories by clustering adjacent fields from neighboring farmers, enhancing both natural and cultivated biodiversity to transform agricultural practices towards sustainability. This project aims to promote agroecological practices that address the complex challenges of pesticide reduction, focusing on the integrated management of pests, predators, and pollinators that directly affect crop productivity. By protecting biodiversity and ecosystem services, the project encourages farmers to shift from chemical-heavy practices to more sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches. At the heart of OASIS is the establishment of "OASIS zones," common spaces where farmers collaborate to manage pests and enhance pollinator habitats. These spaces also serve as experimental areas to test innovative techniques in agroecology, integrated pest management, and agroforestry. By bringing together various stakeholders—including farmers, beekeepers, local authorities, and environmental organizations—the project fosters collaborative action and community-led solutions for sustainable food production. One of the key aspects of the project is the development of agroecological corridors, which include hedges, flower strips, and family gardens that provide ecological benefits such as improved soil health, water retention, and increased biodiversity. These elements not only support pest and pollinator management but also enhance the overall resilience of farming systems to the pressures of climate change. In addition, the project aims to contribute to the social and cultural dynamics of farming communities, strengthening local knowledge, and building capacity for adaptive management in response to changing agricultural environments. The OASIS project operates through a transdisciplinary approach, drawing on years of collaboration with farmers' associations, beekeepers, and local governments, and integrating insights from previous research initiatives such as the LEGUMIP and AMIGO projects. The project’s methodology is based on co-designing solutions with stakeholders to ensure that interventions are context-specific and have tangible impacts. In the medium and long term, the project expects to see visual environmental changes at the landscape level, such as increased flower diversity, insect and bird populations, and stronger collective action. The four main phases of the project—Co-Design, Learn, Scale Out, and Scale Up & Deep—ensure that the project is both adaptable and scalable, with a strong emphasis on learning from experience and scaling up successful solutions to reach larger communities. This approach will help strengthen the resilience of farming communities and contribute to the global transition towards more sustainable, integrated, and climate-resilient food systems. Through OASIS, farmers and communities are empowered to take control of their own agricultural futures, fostering positive ecological change and ensuring food security for generations to come.