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Llama Fiber Supply Chain Sustainability in Bolivia

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Llama Fiber Supply Chain Sustainability in Bolivia Llama Fiber Supply Chain Sustainability in Bolivia Rebecca Starkman A Field Practicum Report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master of Sustainable Development Practice Degree at the University of Florida, in Gainesville, FL, USA April 2017 Supervisory Committee: Dr. Catherine Tucker Dr. Sebastian Galindo 1 Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 1 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 2 1.2 Corporate Social Responsibility ........................................................................................... 2 1.2 Supply Chain Considerations ................................................................................................ 3 2. Context: Bolivia .......................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Location ................................................................................................................................ 4 2.2 The Altiplano ........................................................................................................................ 4 2.3 Demographic & Socio-Economic Data ................................................................................ 5 2.4 Laws & Social Movements ................................................................................................... 6 3. Literature Review ........................................................................................................................ 7 3.1 Characteristics of Llamas in the Altiplano ............................................................................ 7 3.1.1 Llama Characteristics: Considerations for Textile Industry .......................................... 8 3.2 Smallholder Llama Farming ................................................................................................. 9 3.2.1 Previous Development Projects Related to Smallholder Llama Farmers .................... 10 4. Field Practicum ......................................................................................................................... 12 4.1 Cotopaxi .............................................................................................................................. 12 4.2 Altifibers ............................................................................................................................. 12 4.3 Objectives of this study ....................................................................................................... 13 4.4 Conceptual Framework ....................................................................................................... 14 5. Methods..................................................................................................................................... 15 5.1 Semi-Structured and Informal Interviews ........................................................................... 15 5.2 Observations ....................................................................................................................... 18 6. Findings & Analysis ................................................................................................................. 19 6.1 Supply Chain Mapping ....................................................................................................... 19 6.1.1 Perspectives from llama farmers and intermediaries ................................................... 20 6.2 Llama Fiber Market ............................................................................................................ 21 6.2.1 Artisan Crafts ............................................................................................................... 21 6.2.2 Llama Fiber: By-Product ............................................................................................. 21 6.2.3 Alternative Investments in Llama Meat ....................................................................... 22 6.2.4 Market Vendors ........................................................................................................... 23 6.2.5 Perceptions of Llama Fiber Value ............................................................................... 24 6.2.6 Textile Industry Vision ................................................................................................ 25 6.3 Llama Fiber ......................................................................................................................... 25 6.3.1 Shearing Practices ........................................................................................................ 25 6.3.2 Seasonality & Supply ................................................................................................... 26 6.3.3 Industry Standards ....................................................................................................... 27 6.3.4 Competing Use of Llama Meat .................................................................................... 27 6.4 Llama Farming .................................................................................................................... 27 6.4.1 Llama Keeping Practices ............................................................................................. 28 6.4.2 Animal Health .............................................................................................................. 28 6.4.3 Weather in the Altiplano .............................................................................................. 29 6.4.5 Llama Farming Families & Urban Migration .............................................................. 30 2 7. Stakeholders for Collaboration ................................................................................................. 30 8. Conclusions & Recommendations ............................................................................................ 32 8.1 Partnerships / Collaboration with Stakeholders .................................................................. 32 8.2 Capacity building ................................................................................................................ 32 8.3 Llama Fiber Standards / Certification ................................................................................. 33 8.4 Supply Chain: Llama farmers and Intermediaries .............................................................. 34 Final note ...................................................................................................................................... 34 Bibliography ................................................................................................................................. 35 Appendices .................................................................................................................................... 44 Appendix 1. Map of Bolivia ..................................................................................................... 44 Appendix 2. Map of interview and observation locations ........................................................ 45 Appendix 3. Llama production markets .................................................................................... 45 Appendix 4. Cross-scale considerations ................................................................................... 47 Appendix 5. Participation of economic agents in the fiber value chain ................................... 48 Appendix 6. The sustainable livelihoods framework ............................................................... 49 Appendix 7. Sample questions to llama farmers ...................................................................... 51 Appendix 8. Sample questions to intermediaries ...................................................................... 52 Appendix 9. Sample questions to stakeholders ......................................................................... 53 Appendix 10. Value chain activities ......................................................................................... 54 Appendix 11. Illustration of Altifibers industrialization process .............................................. 56 Tables Table 1. Estimates of llama fleece weight ...................................................................................... 8 Table 2. Interviews ........................................................................................................................ 17 Table 3. Observations ................................................................................................................... 18 Table 4. Observed llama fiber market prices ................................................................................ 24 Table 5. Stakeholders for collaboration ........................................................................................ 32 3 Acknowledgements and sincere gratitude to: § The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; § Cotopaxi Global Philanthropy and Supply Chain Manager, Sheldon Wardwell; § Altifibers & Altiknits, Winston Canedo & Diego Daza; § MDP director and advisor, Dr. Glenn Galloway; § MDP coordinator and supporter, Dr. Andrew Noss; § Committee Chair, Dr. Catherine Tucker; § Committee Member, Dr. Sebastian Galindo; § Friend and host, Marliz Arteaga Gomez-Garcia and Arteaga family; § Family
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