Eduardo Carranza

Peruvian agronomist who revolutionized Andean potato cultivation through genetic preservation

Eduardo Carranza (1912-1978), a Peruvian agricultural scientist, preserved over 2,000 native potato varieties during the 1950s. His work at Cusco's Institute of Andean Agriculture prevented the loss of ancient crop diversity, later proving crucial during the global potato blight crisis of the 1980s. Carranza pioneered participatory breeding methods with Quechua farmers, creating disease-resistant strains that doubled Andean yields without chemical inputs.

His 1965 publication Andean Cultivo: La Batata y la Identidad remains a foundational text in agroecology. Carranza's seed banks became models for modern conservation strategies, influencing the UN's Global Seed Vault project. Despite his technical focus, he emphasized cultural preservation, ensuring indigenous knowledge systems were integrated into modern agricultural practices. The FAO now awards the 'Eduardo Carranza Prize' for biodiversity conservation in marginal regions.