Chile Emergency: help Slow Food Presidia producers struck by the earthquake

On February 27 a devastating earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale, the sixth most powerful ever recorded, struck south-central Chile. In the areas affected by the earthquake, at least 200,000 houses were destroyed or damaged, schools, hospitals, factories and offices collapsed, and many Chileans lost their homes and livelihoods.

Slow Food has been present in Chile since 2004 and we now have many friends who work with us to promote the movement and develop activities for the defense of biodiversity. Currently our network includes more than 200 members in 5 convivia, 5 Presidia and 10 Terra Madre food communities as well as cooks and academics. The news of the earthquake upset us deeply, and we remain concerned about the situation facing the country and our friends.

The quake particularly affected two of our projects: the Robinson Crusoe Island Seafood Presidium and the Blue Egg Chicken Presidium.

Robinson Crusoe Island Seafood Presidium

In the minutes following the first tremors, a series of tsunami waves were created in the waters of the Pacific that hit the coasts of the Juan Fernandez archipelago.
It was here in 2005 that Slow Food started a Presidium to support the valuable work of the Juan Fernandez Archipelago Fishermen's Association, with the aim of protecting a unique marine ecosystem, preserving traditional fishing activities and expanding the protected area around the island.
When the tragedy struck, the Presidium, with funding from the Lighthouse Foundation, was in the process of building a fishermen's restaurant, a processing workshop and a fresh fish shop. With the tsunami, many fishermen have lost their homes, boats and fishing equipment, and the restaurant and shop, which were near the San Juan Bautista pier, were swept away along with everything around them.
While our initial objective was to help the fishermen to be more efficient, autonomous and competitive, we are now focused on assisting them to simply resume their fishing activities. This needs to occur quickly in order that they can have an income once again and to ensure that their fishing methods, which respect this unique ecosystem, aren't lost.
Slow Food has decided to focus its efforts on the reconstruction of the Juan Fernandez Archipelago Fishermen's Association office, which will be used as a multifunctional centre for fisherpeople, but also for the entire island community. The new office is valuable both economically - as it will be a place to hold meetings and plan productive and commercial activities, but also symbolically. Reconstructing the office in this particular location, which was completely destroyed, is a sign that the life of the island is slowly resuming and that the Robinson Crusoe Island Seafood Presidium can once again begin to build their livelihoods.

Blue Egg Chicken Presidium

The Presidium was created in 2005 to preserve a native poultry breed. The Presidium farmers live in villages near Concepción, the city which suffered the most damage from the earthquake.
Also in this case, the situation facing producers is serious. Many breeders have lost most of their assets and it has even become difficult to buy fodder for their hens.
The funds collected will be used to create three community centers to produce and distribute fodder. Presidium producers will be able to purchase food at fair prices, and therefore begin to resume their farming. The feed will be purchased from organic producers in the area, and will therefore make it possible to ensure good practices along the Presidium's entire production chain.

See photos before and after the disaster to the right.