Traditional horticultural knowledge change in a rural population of the Patagonian steppe

► In arid human communities of Patagonia, horticultural knowledge is integrating with western practices. Locals have adopted new materials and new cultivation methods, such as the use of greenhouses, whilst still taking ancestral customs into account. ► Several factors, such as the incorporation of exotic crops, new practices, knowledge and technology, introduced from external sources, have led to noticeable changes in local horticultural practices. ► Community based management taking into account the development of horticulturism could reduce land degradation while strengthening sources of productive reconversion.