Food sovereignty
We strengthen the food autonomy of families through the raising and consumption of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) as a strategy that provides a comprehensive solution to the hunting of other endangered species such as the tapir while at the same time we restore fragile ecosystems with the support of this ancestral livestock farming
Productive nuclei
The goal is to facilitate the establishment of ecological meat production nuclei with the help of families, creating the first cooperative of guinea pig farmers in each region and establishing sales points for marketing in renowned restaurants.
Regenerative agriculture schools
This initiative is dedicated to promoting education on regenerative agriculture through the raising of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) in rural schools, with the goal of integrating practical and theoretical knowledge about guinea pig farming into the school curriculum.
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Our mission is to re-introduce guinea pigs into the diet, into ecosystems, into the circular economy and into academia as the pre- Hispanic solution to modern challenges .
Learn with us what pre-Columbian findings tell us about the guinea pigs!
Rio Ancho, Guajira
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How does Cavia porcellus return from Putumayo to La Sierra?
Miraflores, Boyaca
Sibundoy, Putumayo
The Rescue of the Past
In 2022, the Cuii Project was initiated as an ancestral-based initiative brought to the present by Colombians committed to the conservation and history of domesticated animals. They managed to materialize an audacious dream: the return of the guinea pig, or Cavia porcellus, to its ancient habitats in Colombia. The guinea pig, a rodent domesticated since pre-Columbian times, had been a vital food source in Andean cultures, but its presence in certain regions had diminished over time due to, among other things, social prejudices introduced during the colonial period.
The Return Route
The project began in Putumayo, a region where guinea pigs are still known for their traditional uses. Here, carefully selected specimens representing the genetic richness of the species were collected. These initial families were prepared to undertake the journey back through the high and extensive mountains of the country. The return required the creation of an intermediate production center in Boyacá to ensure coverage for the return to the rest of the country.
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
The final destination of this journey was the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a place of great biodiversity and cultural significance for humanity. The Sierra Nevada, with its diverse ecosystems ranging from tropical forests to Andean páramos, had evidence of the historical presence of the guinea pig, which supported the return of the guinea pigs to the Kággaba or Kogi indigenous community.
Months after arriving in the Sierra Nevada, the Cuii Project team had already made initial progress, such as constructing the Guinea Pig House and receiving payments from the Mamas to announce the return of the guinea pig to other species.
The Cuii in Colombia, a story of resistance and reconnection
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Contact us if you are interested in a nucleus, researching with us, and/or eating ecological meat.
Aliados
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