In Wayunaikki, the language of the Wayuu Indigenous Peoples, there is no word for "climate change''. Yet, as the climate crisis undeniably batters their communities, they may just have found a key to resilience: a humble bean.
The Wayuu have, for centuries, navigated the challenges of one the world's most inhospitable climates. La Guajira, their ancestral homeland, stretches across the northernmost tip of mainland South America, bordering Colombia and Venezuela. This vast desert landscape, covering 20 848 square kilometres, is comparable in size to El Salvador and Slovenia.
This territory, where dry forests and desert sands meet the turquoise Caribbean Sea, is renowned for being one of the harshest and most arid environments in the region with its relentless sun, strong winds, scarce rainfall and few water sources, with temperatures that oscillate between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius all year-round.
In the face of such adversity where food is not easy to grow, a key ally is a unique variety of cowpea, the kapeshuna bean, or better known as the Guajiro bean (Vigna unguiculata L.), named for the dry region where it thrives.
This remarkable pulse, cultivated for countless generations and passed down through families like a cherished heirloom, is far more than just sustenance for the Wayuu whose population is currently over 600 000 people. It represents a profound connection to their ancestors, a symbol of resilience and a vital thread in the tapestry of their cultural and spiritual identity.
"The bean is very important to us because it grows quickly: in 45-50 days you already have a harvest. It's also very resistant, thriving even in dry conditions or during floods because of its deep roots," says Manuel Montiel from the Ipasharrain village in the middle region of La Guajira, Colombia.
Indeed, the bean with its unique growth cycle, yielding a first harvest within three months and then continuing to produce for up to eight, offers a steady supply of food even when the rains are scarce.
Manuel walks through the field. Though most might be afraid of stepping on the plants, Manuel doesn't think twice. "Don't worry," he says with a grin, "The Guajiro bean is tough like the Wayuu people. It actually gets stronger when you step on it."
He then examines the stringy green, brown and purple plants, explaining how each colour indicates the ripeness of the beans. Carefully, he picks a handful and hands them to his sister, wife and daughter -who with the other women of the community gather in the communal kitchen to prepare a variety of dishes featuring the versatile bean as the star ingredient.
The "Guajirito" bean, a term of endearment in its own right, is remarkably adaptable. Not only is it resilient and capable of being eaten at any stage of its growth, but it is also satisfying and nutritious due to its high protein, minerals and fibre content.
"We plant it because it is 'heavy', meaning that it allows people to feel full. So, this food is what we give to our children and the whole family, and it allows us to be nourished. We can also prepare many recipes with it," explains Ana Griselda Gonzalez.
For example, there's Shapulana, a hearty soup made with Guajiro beans, goat fat and yellow corn. Her favourite preparation though, she says while holding a plate, is to cook the beans inside their pod and pair them with some goat cheese.
Traditionally, Wayuu women, the keepers of ancestral wisdom in their matrilineal clans where they play a prominent role in decision-making, meticulously select and preserve the largest, healthiest seeds of the Guajiro bean after each harvest, ensuring the continuation of this vital crop.
As the men prepare the fields, carefully furrowing the dry earth, women and children follow, scattering the precious seeds, each one a promise of future sustenance. The planting is a symbol of community and shared heritage, strengthening social bonds as families and neighbours come together.
It is also intertwined with their spiritual beliefs, with dreams and premonitions guiding its cultivation and use in medicinal treatments, ensuring the well-being of their loved ones.
"We are grateful to have all this food available now. Before, we had to wait for rain to be able to sow or just to drink some water. Now we have a well and food all year long. But even when the situation was dire the Guajiro bean was our main source of food, and it fed my ancestors who had nothing of what we have now," explains Ana, demonstrating how it can also be eaten green and uncooked, like a snack.
For centuries, the Wayuu survived living in small communities across La Guajira, herding goats, foraging for wild fruits from the surrounding tropical dry forest, hunting, fishing and cultivating the few crops that withstood the harsh terrain in their home gardens, especially the beans, relying on stored provisions for the long months with no harvest.
Traditionally, farmers, like Ana's ancestors, aligned the cultivation of Guajiro beans with the predictable rhythm of rainy and dry seasons. This resilient way of life started to come to a halt more than two decades ago, and despite their remarkable resilience in overcoming challenges - from a naturally harsh climate to socioeconomic disparities like limited infrastructure and poor access to services - the Wayuu now face an unprecedented threat to their food security.
Several El Niño events and other climatic factors fuelled by the changing temperatures of our planet have disrupted these natural cycles, bringing unpredictable weather patterns and intensified droughts. In some cases, the Wayuu have had to abandon completely their agricultural practices and traditions to join the workforce in the cities.
"Twenty years ago, when we knew when the rains were coming, we would save food for our animals, and it would last us until the next winter, but now animals in other communities are dying because the plants start to wither early, and the rain doesn't come when it's supposed to," describes Manuel.
A devastating drought that ravaged La Guajira between 2012 and 2016 left a deep scar on the region. Over 900 000 inhabitants from the Colombian Caribbean region, including roughly 450 000 Wayuu people, faced a progressive erosion of their livelihoods. Food scarcity became a harsh reality, leading to malnutrition, disease and child mortality. Agriculture withered, native seeds were lost and a staggering 60 percent of livestock, the backbone of the Wayuu economy, perished.
The El Niño and la Niña events in recent years have further exacerbated food insecurity, with up to 67 percent of Indigenous Peoples in La Guajira, particularly the Wayuu, experiencing it, according to government data.
The Ipasharraim village, home to Ana, Manuel and 52 other Wayuu families, is one of over 50 villages that have benefited from an initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and its partners. This effort, established in response to the recent food and migration crises in the region, has been transforming the desert landscape, creating verdant havens that many consider to be true oases.
Utilizing a network of clean energy-powered pumps and drip irrigation, drawing water from a revitalized underground well, half an acre of the community's land is now dedicated exclusively to food production. With this, and other FAO-advised climate change adaptation measures, the community has overcome the challenges of the increasingly unreliable rainy season.
Once at the mercy of a sky that could remain dry for nine months or longer, they now cultivate a thriving community field or "Centro Demostrativo Comunitario" (Community Demonstrative Centre).
At these Centres, FAO technicians collaborate with the community, adapting climate-smart agricultural practices to the cultural and social context. The technicians empower Indigenous Peoples to become the primary agents in the rehabilitation of their agricultural systems. For example, a cooking technician who speaks the Wayuu language and understands their cultue and dietary practices, demonstrates how to prepare safe and nutritious meals, preserve ingredients for longer periods and incorporate new recipes and sustainable food practices.
The Centres are also founded on recognizing and incorporating the ancestral knowledge of Indigenous Peoples, their historical production practices and consumption patterns into climate adaptation practices.
Marrying traditional knowledge and innovation through SCALA
To further strengthen this community-based adaptation approach, the FAO- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) programme, Scaling Up Climate Ambition on Land Use and Agriculture through Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans (SCALA), funded by Germany's Ministry for the Environment, is currently working to enhance the Wayuu's resilience to increasingly extreme climatic conditions, incorporating traditional practices and emphasizing agrobiodiversity.
"We strive to foster a dialogue that bridges climate science and meteorology with the traditional knowledge these communities possess," explains Jorge Gutiérrez, SCALA programme coordinator in Colombia. He emphasizes that while the Wayuu people are adept at managing their territory during droughts, they now face numerous challenges even when rain arrives, as it sometimes causes unexpected flooding, demanding new adaptation measures.
In general, adapting to climate change's current and anticipated effects includes making changes to infrastructure, institutions, behaviours and natural environments to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience. SCALA works precisely on these issues with more than a dozen countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia, aiming to identify and implement transformative solutions that can both be tailored to local contexts and scaled up more broadly to address climatic, socioeconomic, food security and other challenges across countries and regions.
"In La Guajira, the droughts have intensified, and rainfall, when it does occur, can also be problematic, causing damage to gardens, illness in animals and fungal growth due to excess moisture. Through the SCALA programme, we've focused on identifying practices that enhance both water availability and soil quality, ensuring sustainable crop production," Jorge says.
For example, recognizing the Wayuu's dependence on rainfall, SCALA along with several humanitarian partners helped optimize existing wells and create water reservoirs to enable micro-drip irrigation, using minimal water per day.
"It's a collaborative trial-and-error process with each community. We work together to understand planting depth and suitable crops based on soil conditions. By figuring this out, we can distribute various crops throughout the year, allowing year-round cultivation instead of being limited to the two or three months of rain," Jorge adds.
"Another crucial aspect is agrobiodiversity. Recognizing the types of seeds, plants and food each community has is vital for climate change adaptation. We've identified several key foods, but one stands out: the Guajiro bean. It grows low to the ground, is drought and flood-resistant, and thrives in enriched soil even against pests," the FAO expert explains.
In terms of soil management, the Wayuu, traditionally goat herders, now utilize goat manure mixed with minerals, ashes and hydro-retainers to enrich their soil and provide essential nutrients for crops and local seeds.
This deep understanding of the nutrient cycle and the connection between soil, water and seeds enable the community to have food available year-round, the expert highlights.
"We're reviving traditional knowledge about the land through local seeds that are also resilient. This community-seed dialogue ensures that children in this territory, who have unfortunately experienced significant challenges in recent years, will see improvements in their nutritional and food conditions."
The project's impact has been so significant that, thanks to the new adaptative practices, some communities now even have a surplus of Guajiro beans to sell or trade.
"When FAO is no longer here, we'll be confident that they have the entire cycle: nutrients, seeds, seedbeds, nurseries and water management over time, woven into their daily lives. This has been a significant but rewarding challenge, and we believe it can be replicated by other communities and countries, as these universal elements can be found in any community," Jorge concludes.
In the Wayuu community of Ipanama, a 40-minute drive south of Riohacha, the capital of Colombia's La Guajira region, Sandra Medina, the chosen leader for a new Community Demonstration Centre, warmly welcomes a group of FAO technicians, most of whom are Wayuu too. Though from different clans, their camaraderie speaks volumes about their shared commitment.
Sandra, also a teacher at the community school, understands the hardships her people face all too well, including going to school hungry. As a child, she walked ten kilometers every day to attend classes, often with an empty stomach. Now, she teaches at a new school, built just a few years ago to serve the local children.
"I knew I had to leave and get an education," Sandra reflects, "I saw the needs of my people and felt a deep responsibility to help. I always promised myself I'd come back and use my knowledge to make a difference."
And she has. Alongside FAO and her people, they are building the foundation for what the Ipasharraim community already enjoys: transforming an acre of desert into a thriving oasis adapted to climate change.
Sandra admits worriedly, "We used to save seeds, but climate change has made planting impossible lately. The rain doesn't come. Now, we're part of something very innovative, something that gives us real hope."
With the support of the SCALA and its partners, the communities are installing irrigation systems and digging planting holes, but first, they prepare the soil.
"We never used goat manure like this before," Sandra explains. "We had this resource but didn't know its value. This knowledge is vital for our community; it helps us keep the gift of sowing given by our ancestors."
They are also tending to newly installed herb gardens and crop nurseries that represent the entire community´s renewed hope.
"We only grew beans, corn, squash, maybe some watermelon, like our ancestors," Sandra says. "Basil, cilantro, eggplant, tomato -- these are all new to us. We're excited to be learning so much," she says while smiling at Maria Alejandra Epiayú, their assigned Wayuu FAO cooking technician who is helping the community take advantage of the produce to make new and safe recipes.
The Wayuu People's embrace of newly introduced crops demonstrates the power of agrobiodiversity in action. This diversification not only enhances their food security by providing a buffer against climate shocks but also empowers them to improve their nutrition and economic well-being. Moreover, it reinforces their connection to the land and their ancestral knowledge, creating a sustainable and resilient agrifood system in the face of a changing climate.
The community hopes to boost their economy, grow many different crops and trade with others. They're also creating a fodder bank for their animals, who have also suffered from the harsh climate.
"I will always say and express my gratitude for FAO's intervention. I hope that just as they are here in our territory, they could reach more communities, since the needs and the effects due to climate change are not only seen here but in all ancestral spaces and territories."
After just three months, their efforts have paid off, and the previously barren acre of land (photo left), is now flourishing with green (photo right).
Colombia, the third most populous country in Latin America, boasts a rich biodiversity, harbouring nearly 10 percent of the planet's species. Climate change poses a significant threat to its fragile ecosystems, exacerbating land degradation and impacting water quality and agricultural production. Agriculture, employing 15.8 percent of the population as of 2019, is particularly vulnerable to climate-induced events like La Niña, characterized by cycles of drought and intense rainfall.
Colombia has demonstrated its commitment to addressing climate change through ambitious mitigation and adaptation goals outlined in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). While contributing only 0.56 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, the country aims to reduce its emissions by 51 percent compared to projected levels by 2030. The agriculture sector, responsible for 71.3 percent of domestic emissions, will play a key role in achieving this target through strategies focused on reducing emissions in cocoa, rice, coffee, plantation forestry and cattle production.
In addition to mitigation efforts, Colombia prioritizes adaptation through initiatives like the SCALA programme, which builds on previous efforts like the NAP-Ag programme.
The SCALA programme in Colombia is also actively documenting and systematizing traditional knowledge for climate change adaptation across various regions. This "Traditional Territorial Practices and Techniques" initiative aims to capture 15 such practices across diverse regions like the Caribbean, Pacific, Andes, Orinoquia and Amazonia. The ultimate goal is to integrate this valuable local knowledge into national action plans ensuring that climate adaptation strategies effectively incorporate the wisdom and practices of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The cultivation of Guajiro beans by the Wayuu people is one of these initiatives.
Agustín Zimmermann, FAO Representative in Colombia, highlights the importance of integrating climate action with other key issues like food insecurity, "In 2023, between 713 and 757 million people suffered from hunger, and some 2.33 billion people - 28.9 percent of the world's population - face moderate or severe food insecurity, meaning they go without food for a day or more. This figure has remained almost unchanged over the last three years, in part due to climate change, which has led to increasingly frequent and severe extreme events, affecting food production and livelihoods."
Zimmermann continues, "This is why the FAO Colombia office is committed to contributing to the alignment of biodiversity and climate change agendas with rural development and peace initiatives. Through concrete projects, we aim to equip communities with the internal capacities to incorporate and apply a comprehensive vision for agrifood systems."
"Without solutions that can only come through transforming our agriculture and food systems, it's simply not going to be possible to achieve the global biodiversity and climate change aspirations or indeed the land degradation neutrality goals that countries have set themselves," said Kaveh Zahedi, Director of the FAO Office of Climate Biodiversity and Environment. ''We need to make sure that the finance is flowing to scaling up the agrifood system solutions that can bring these multiple benefits.''