The CIMMYT Institute (International Center for the Improvement of Maize and Wheat) has recently published the progress of an alliance between this institution and PepsiCo Mexico and the Trimex Group that promotes sustainable agricultural practices among small and medium-sized wheat producers in the Mexican states of Michoacán and Guanajuato.
Soaring input prices such as fertilizers and pesticides due to low supply and the container shipping crisis have made farmers rethink about new economical viable models For this, conservation agriculture which shares several principles of biomimicry, has become the candidate for the “Agriba” program conformed by the mentioned companies. This initiative includes the use of stubble from the previous harvest, improving soil properties as well as increasing tolerance against pests and diseases. Thanks to the initiative, higher grain yield is achieved with a lower production cost, as well as the regeneration of soil for following generations. Likewise, the project includes a reduction in the use of machinery and fossil fuels, generating environmentally friendly practices performed by farmers.
The project also involves training producers in these techniques, generating relevant skills for Mexican rural development with a long term view. Overall, this is definitely an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable solution.