The Gendered Politics of Assisted Pollination of Palm Trees in Tumaco, Colombia

Andres Caícedo, Ph. D student in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management and a 2025 CLACS Summer Dissertation Fellow, researches the introduction of the hybrid OxG palm, engineered to resist Bud Rot disease in Tumaco, Colombia. This hybrid's reliance on assisted pollination has led to labor being feminized, with women often tending the plants, resulting in a complex intertwining of care, physical strain, and industry expectations.