A ten-year participatory technology development effort was undertaken by World Neighbors to assist Quechua farmers living in the Andean mountains of Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru to improve soil and water conservation practices on hillsides that lose 80 to 120 tons of soil per hectare per year. The results of this action research demonstrate that site-specific adaptations made by farmers improved food security, enhanced profitability, conserved water, and reduced soil erosion. Motivation to test, adopt and disseminate new ideas on a volunteer basis required that all four of these benefits be realized by farmers.