Exploring Agroecological Impacts on Rural Farming Systems in Southern Mexico

Abstract

Agroecology offers a sustainable solution to the growing demand for food by mitigating environmental degradation caused by conventional agricultural practices. However, evidence on the impacts of public policies promoting agroecology remains limited. This study provides a comparative analysis of differences associated with the Estrategia de Acompañamiento Técnico (EAT), part of the Producción para el Bienestar (PpB) program, on the agroecological transition of producers in two municipalities in Mexico. The EAT promotes this transition through training and technical assistance, while PpB provides direct financial support. The analysis compared three groups of production units (EAT and PpB, only PpB, and without support), using soil quality indicators (pH, compaction, electrical conductivity, redox potential, and organic matter) and an assessment of agroecological status. The comparative analysis indicates that production units participating in the EAT tend to exhibit higher values in some of the agroecological transition indicators analyzed. Implementation challenges were identified, including labor shortages, logistical difficulties, limited understanding of agroecological benefits, and parallel policies promoting chemical fertilizers that counteract EAT's objectives. The study is relevant because it expands the evidence on the effects of public policies in agroecology, providing recommendations to enhance EAT, guide large-scale evaluations, and support the implementation of similar initiatives in other contexts.