Agroecological and Ethno-Agricultural Conflicts in Yaonáhuac, Northern Puebla Highlands, Mexico: A Case Study of ‘Milpa’ Agroforestry Under Pressure from Industrial Agriculture of Potato for Snack Production
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: The municipality of Yaonáhuac, situated in the Northern Highlands of the state of Puebla, Mexico, has a population that is predominantly comprised of individuals belonging to various Indigenous communities. This region is distinguished by its strong adherence to Indigenous traditions and customs, which have been handed down through generations and continue to play a significant role in the cultural identity and practices of the community. A significant proportion of the population is reliant on ethno-agricultural practices, with smallholdings constituting a primary source of income for local communities. However, in recent years, the extractive cultivation of potatoes for the snack food industry has been expanding in Yaonáhuac, resulting in environmental impacts that have altered water and soil conditions, thereby diminishing the possibilities of successfully practicing ecologically more sustainable agroforestry. The potato variety cultivated in the Northern Highlands is predominantly Atlantic, FL 2027. The cultivation of these crops necessitates a substantial water supply, thereby reducing the availability of this vital liquid from both surface and groundwater sources. This has a detrimental effect on traditional ‘milpa’ crops and results in the depletion of the soil due to the excessive use of agrochemicals. In this context, the present article will discuss the benefits and feasibility of developing traditional agroforestry techniques in Yaonáhuac to promote the application of ethno-agricultural knowledge for the benefit of the local economy, ecology and the conservation and maintenance of water resources, all of which are threatened by the arrival of industrial agriculture and ecological imperialism for potato chip production. This study is based on data on the strategies implemented for legislation and the proper use of resources in the communities surrounding the Northern Puebla Highlands, carried out by different territorial cooperatives that have demonstrated within their own communities and that can be replicated in the community of Yaonáhuac.
Source: Preprints.org
Authors: Janina C. Carrera, Anne K. Kurjenoja
Language: English
Subfield: Development
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7204992473