As part of the “Food Sovereignty” course-project taught in the 6th year of UNSAM’s Escuela Secundaria Técnica, we worked with the students to explore the concept of food sovereignty as the right of peoples to define their own policies and strategies for food production, distribution, and consumption, while respecting the environment and biodiversity. In class, we reflected on how this principle is (or isn’t) manifested in our neighborhood: what foods we consume, how we access them, and what obstacles we face in ensuring safe, healthy, and sustainable nutrition.
This work was integrated with the Bioleft project “Rescuing the Creole Tomato”, in which we participated through the participatory breeding of Creole tomatoes using seeds provided by the Bioleft network. The initiative was also linked to the UNSAM extension project “Urban Wetlands and Environment”, allowing us to explore, in a hands-on and collaborative way, the intersection of biodiversity, food production, and community. Throughout the year, we held four events with invited guests who enriched our learning and helped us connect theory with concrete actions, as detailed below.
1st Meeting: Preparing Substrates, Sowing and More
This first meeting was held on September 4. Participants included the 6th-year students, the Food Sovereignty course teacher Florencia Otegui, and Mariana Totino, a UNSAM researcher. We began by discussing the history of the tomato and its center of origin and diversification, using a video presentation. Then the students prepared the substrate and sowed seeds of the three recovered varieties provided by Bioleft (“Aimé,” “Nomeolvides,” and “La Piqui”) in seedling trays, which were kept in the classroom under the care of three groups. These groups were responsible for watering and recording the germination rate for each sown variety.
2nd Meeting: Knowledge Exchange with the Technical High School of Agricultural and Agri-Food Production (FCV-UBA)
On Wednesday, October 16, we held a rewarding exchange event between UNSAM’s Technical High School and the Agrotechnical High School of the FCV-UBA, with the goal of sharing Natural Sciences projects developed by both institutions. Students from 4th, 5th, and 6th years participated, sharing experiences and knowledge through various activities. The day began with a shared breakfast, followed by a school tour and workshops. The 6th-year students from UNSAM’s Science-Oriented Baccalaureate presented their Food Sovereignty project, developed with teacher Florencia Otegui, at a stand. There, they shared information about the tomato’s history, its origin and diversification center, and results from calculating the germination potential of the three varieties, evaluated 40 days after sowing. They also created a participatory activity: a riddle game based on the varieties, inviting UBA students to reflect and learn in a playful and collaborative way.
3rd Meeting: Transplanting Day
On Wednesday, November 13, we held a transplanting session for the Creole tomato seedlings with Daniel Somma (INTA), Mariana Totino (UNSAM extension project), and seven Environmental Engineering students from UNSAM. The day began with group introductions, sparking a rich exchange between the high school seniors and university students. They shared personal experiences, expectations, and frustrations. A key topic was the current reduction in university funding and its impact on school life. One example frequently mentioned was the lack of fruit at breakfast, recess, and lunch this year. This led to a reflection on the importance of the school garden and our participation in the “Rescuing the Creole Tomato” project.
We then got our hands in the soil. Daniel and Mariana guided us through transplanting the seedlings, emphasizing the importance of substrate quality, watering, and plant support. The seedlings were transplanted into pots so students could take them home and continue to care for them after the school year ended.
4th Meeting: Knowledge Fair and Tomato Plant Care Commitment Letter
Every year, UNSAM’s Technical High School organizes the “Knowledge Fair,” a space where we share the year’s work with the community across subjects and projects. Since our school year is ending but the tomato plants will keep growing, we decided to create a Commitment Letter to give the Creole tomato plants we cared for so lovingly up for adoption.
At the Fair, we handed out the Creole tomato plants to students, teachers, and neighbors who visited. These adopters took on the responsibility of caring for the plants and sharing updates with us—how they grow, when they bloom and fruit. We also took their contact details to stay in touch and receive photos of their progress.
We’re excited to see how our plants do and to hear all about the flavor of the tomatoes!