Final answer:
Human activities have transformed Andean agriculture, from the adoption of terrace farming to cope with steep inclines to the introduction of new crops. Changes in environmental management, such as deforestation and soil erosion, have altered the agricultural landscape, influencing traditional practices and local cuisine.
Step-by-step explanation:
Human activities have greatly influenced the traditional farming practices in the Andes. The ancient Andeans developed specialized agricultural techniques like terrace farming to cultivate crops such as potatoes, maize, and coca at different elevations. These terraces aided in irrigation, prevented soil erosion, and even created micro-climates suitable for diverse crops. Over time, as populations grew, these terraces supported a larger agricultural base than is currently used today.
Human interventions like crop diversity have also been driven by the needs to adapt to different elevations and environmental conditions, leading to the domestication of thousands of potato varieties. Furthermore, innovations, such as irrigation canals, were developed to address challenges of dry coastal areas, which allowed for expansion of agriculture by utilizing water from the Andean snowmelt.
However, modern influences leading to deforestation and the loss of topsoil, as well as the transition to crops like maize, which were less traditionally important in these regions, have altered these ancient agricultural practices. The introduction of international influences in cities has also changed the demands for local cuisine, affecting traditional agriculture and crop growing in the Andes.