Fieldwork in Panama

Jamie conducted some exploratory fieldwork in the Tierras Colectivas Emberá on the Río Balsa in Eastern  Panama in June/July. She, Yann, and her other supervisor, Dr. Fiona Soper (Biology), first spent four days in the area to meet the authorities and led a small workshop to learn about rice and corn producers’ concerns regarding production under changing climate conditions. Jamie then returned for another two weeks in the beginning of July, when she continued to speak with community members and collected preliminary data on the economic and cultural importance of these crops, and on changes over the years in inputs, outputs, and costs of production. She also had the opportunity to taste and cook cultural foods with some women in the village.