Restoring Our Food Systems
The Covid-19 pandemic has been a period of difficult sorrow and economic downturn, but with crisis comes opportunity. At the core of our daily existence are our food systems, and one bright side to this disastrous pandemic is that more and more people are coming to understand the connections between how we grow our food, what we eat, and human health and resiliency. In this edition of Patagon Journal, we present that positive trend, one that is crucial to maintain and expand going forward, for as Chilean agronomist Miguel Altieri points out, regenerative agriculture and agroecology are humanity's best bet to “design and manage agricultural systems best able to withstand future crises, whether pest outbreaks, pandemics, climate disruptions, or financial meltdowns.”
Travel and outdoor adventures are harder to partake in right now, but Patagonia will be there when you are ready and able. Do get outside, and support local travel businesses when that's possible. Among other can't miss stories in this edition: Patrick Nixon takes us on a fly fishing trip in Chile's Aysen region, Pablo Besser recounts a spectacular mountaineering and packrafting expedition he made at the Erasmo Glacier in Aysen, Wayne Bernhardson and several talented photographers reveal some of the treasures on the oft overlooked coast of southern Chubut and Santa Cruz, and Camilo Novoa shows us the truly special trekking on Navarino Island.
Admittedly, Patagon Journal had its share of difficulties in 2020; we sincerely apologize for the slowdown in publishing this new issue of the magazine. This magazine was founded in 2011 during the era of Hidroaysen and big dam threats to a mostly forgotten Patagonia region in Chile and Argentina, and our mission then and since has served as a response: build a greater appreciation, understanding and environmental protection of Patagonia and the world's last wild places. As we near our 10th anniversary in December, we will be looking at how we can continue to further our mission in new and more effective ways during what's sure to be an important decade for advancing environmental restoration and halting the climate crisis. We hope you will join us.