Maria Mercedes Carrillo

A Peruvian botanist who pioneered Andean biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture practices.

Maria Mercedes Carrillo (1915–1972) revolutionized agricultural science in the Andes through her groundbreaking research on native plant species. As the first woman to lead Peru's National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), she documented over 300 plant species critical to indigenous diets, including quinoa and maca. Her 1953 discovery of drought-resistant potato varieties (Solanum ajanhuiri) directly addressed food security challenges in the Andean highlands. Carrillo's 1960s partnership with UN FAO led to the Andean Crop Diversity Project, which preserved ancestral farming knowledge while introducing modern agroecology techniques.

Her work inspired the creation of the Carrillo Botanical Museum in Cusco, showcasing her 15,000 plant specimens. Carrillo's 1965 paper 'Biodiversity as Cultural Heritage' influenced UNESCO's Sacred Valley of the Incas conservation framework. Though overshadowed by male contemporaries, her legacy persists in Peru's current National Biodiversity Strategy, which credits her as a foundational figure. Her methodologies for participatory research with Quechua communities remain a model for community-based conservation globally.