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In previous articles, we have mentioned the responsibility and impact we have as actors within the industry’s value chains. Although we cannot solve all the sector’s problems as individuals, the real impact is found in our collective actions as actors and consumers.
Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is a net exporter of food at the expense of water stress in the region and CO2 emissions produced by the energy sector. Strategic planning in public policies, the private sector, and the essential promotion of the social sector is necessary to reach a position of sustainability within the three industries.
The Water-Energy-Food Nexus (WEF) concept was formalized at the 2011 Bonn Nexus International Conference, recognizing the intrinsic relationship between these three industries.
In other words, each industry is highly dependent on the availability and well-being of the other two sectors.
Understanding the interrelationship and interdependencies of these industries on environmental resources can result in better water, energy, and food security by integrating management and governance across sectors and scales, reducing trade-offs and building synergies, and generally promoting sustainability and a transition to the green economy.
Most of the studies that consider the complexity of the WEF have been applied in Asia and Europe, so their experience can be learning to acclimatize techniques in Latin America.
The Water Resources Institute organization warns that more than 25% of the world’s crops are grown in regions with severe water scarcity. Following this data, Mexico is the second country in Latin America with the highest water stress, at the same time that it is the main producer and exporter of avocado; According to data from the Dutch organization Water Foodprint Network, around 2,000 liters of water are needed for each kilo of growing avocado.
Water scarcity caused by economic and population growth in moderate to low rainfall areas would be exacerbated by drier and more variable weather conditions. The priority must be to address water governance, as well as its disposal and sanitation.
The LAC region produces enough food for its caloric diet at the expense of water availability and CO2 emissions. Despite this, the region suffers from structural restrictions on access to food, which represents a risk to food and nutritional security. The information suggests the need to make the food sector more efficient. In addition, agricultural expansion in several countries causes deforestation and forest degradation. Therefore, it is essential to introduce novel farming practices, such as polyculture, and sustainable food systems by reducing food losses and waste.
More information:
Mahlknecht, J., González-Bravo, R., & Loge, F. J. (2020). Water-Energy-Food Security: A Nexus Perspective of the Current Situation in Latin America and the Caribbean. Energy, 116824. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544219325198
Agriculture is currently facing numerous challenges that call into question of judgment the sustainability of all activities involved, so innovation within the sector, rather than being an option, is necessary.
La digitalización se ha involucrado, indudablemente, en todas las esferas de nuestra vida y la agricultura no es la excepción. Si bien, podemos tener muchos cuestionamientos respecto a los rápidos avances digitales de estos últimos años, es innegable que en términos de eficiencia no hay otro camino que podamos seguir más que transitar hacia una transformación digital.
El ser disruptivo dentro de uno de los sectores de mayor tradición a través de la historia de la humanidad no es una tarea fácil, requiere de compromiso y constancia, puesto que lo socialmente establecido ha estado arraigado por generaciones. Los puntos que he compartido en este artículo son una mezcla que nos ha ayudado a construir una nueva normalidad y da pie al nuevo modus operandi que dejamos como herencia a este sector.
Despite Mexico’s leadership in producing and exporting avocados, the challenges in production continued due to the international context, especially in political and economic terms, causing the increase in the cost of inputs, logistics fees, and currency exchange
Antes de establecer un cultivo de aguacate, lo principal es considerar algunos factores agroecológicos que serán determinantes a la hora del desarrollo de nuestras plantas.
Los comienzos de 2023 parecen favorecer a las exportaciones mexicanas dentro del mercado europeo del aguacate. De los principales exportadores del fruto en 2022: Chile, España e Israel, se encuentran con poca disponibilidad de fruto, mientras que Perú, África del Sur y Kenya se preparan para cosechar en los próximos meses. El escenario se ha invertido, pasamos de tener una sobre oferta en diciembre pasado a tener escasez.
