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In which regions of the Americas did agriculture arise independently?

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A group of Native American men in colorful traditional regalia with feathered headdresses dance outdoors at a powwow ceremony on a grassy field. — Indigenous peoples of the Americas Performers at a Canadian powwow, c. 2008.

Agriculture in the Americas arose independently in at least three distinct regions: South America, Mesoamerica, and eastern North America.12

Mesoamerica: This region, encompassing areas such as modern-day Mexico, saw the early domestication of crops like corn (maize), squash, and chili peppers. These domesticates eventually formed the basis of the milpa system, a symbiotic agricultural practice involving the interplanting of corn, beans, and squash.123
South America: In the Andes region, indigenous peoples independently domesticated a variety of crops, including potatoes, quinoa, and various beans, alongside animals such as the llama, alpaca, and guinea pig.12
Eastern North America: Indigenous peoples in the Eastern Woodlands (located in present-day U.S. states such as Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee) domesticated native plants including the sunflower, sumpweed, and lamb’s-quarters.2

While these regions developed agriculture independently, it is important to note that the lack of large, domesticable animals suitable for draft labor meant that agricultural technologies reliant on heavy traction, such as the plow, were not utilized in the Americas.1