Skip to main content
Top

2019 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

15. Food System and Society: The Mexican Case

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

The research project Food System and Society The Mexican Case studied were the following questions: 1. Why are many millions of peasants and urban workers hungry or malnourished in a world of plenty? Why do periodic famines exist in different parts of the world despite the fact that elsewhere half of the food is thrown away? 2. What are the mechanisms that contribute to the deterioration of the peasant economy and push millions of people to abandon their land and migrate into miserable slums in large cities? 3. What are the crucial national policies to ensure sufficient, adequate and permanent access to basic foodstuffs for all social groups and prevent seasonal and cyclical variations that may affect the supply? 4. How could a maximum degree of autonomy and self-determination be achieved on basic foods, in order to reduce the vulnerability to price fluctuations in the international market? How are political pressures (food power) counterbalanced without falling into an autarchy but instead promoting a model that optimizes the advantages of specialisation to a prudent degree? Which processes and techniques to produce staple foods preserve and even improve the physical environment in the medium and long term and reinforce a more harmonious relationship between nature and society?

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe




 

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Versicherung + Risiko




Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Footnotes
1
Oswald Spring (1986). Sistema alimentario y sociedad: el caso mexicano (SAS), UAM-X, México. Programa Interdisciplinario de la Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Xochimilco, División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, División de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, División de Ciencias y Artes para el Diseño, Mexico, D.F.
 
2
During its six years of existence, the Scientific Committee of the FSS programme has had several changes of membership. It was first led by an interdisciplinary group: David Barkin, Antonio Flores, Rolando García, René Jimenez and Úrsula Oswald Spring, and from 1986 coordinated by Úrsula Oswald Spring and Antonio Flores. However, the progressive integration of new researchers – both into the collective work of the UAM and from other universities in the country – was very fruitful and stimulating. The integration of local researchers allowed a much deeper understanding of each regional process than would otherwise have been possible.
 
3
This interdisciplinary approach, including empirical evidence, the configuration of the structure and the dynamics of the system of peasant organisation are further developed in the book: Oswald Spring et al. (1986).
 
4
The playa-dune processes are related to two different and interacting processes. The dune is a result of the action of water flow, often fluvial processes and sand from river beds, estuaries and seabed (water and wind erosion), which in drylands absorbs the moisture in the soil and dries out the soil due to hotter climate conditions. The playa process is a result of the salinisation of the soil, due to high evaporation and irrigation using water containing a significant proportion of dissolved salts, which evaporates on the surface of the soils. In cases of extreme arid conditions, salt lakes were emerging.
 
5
A swap is a financial derivate, where two parties exchange cash flows. In the case of bonds, the payment is associated with periodic payment of interest. During the high inflation rate in Mexico and a daily adjustment of the pesos to the dollar, which implied periodic devaluation, these contracts benefited the Coalition thanks to the floating interest rates, foreign exchange rates and commodity prices in dollars. This speculative financial management increased the income of the peasant organisation and stabilised the income from agricultural activities.
 
6
Vertisolisation refers to changes in the dissipative structures of certain soils, where, for example, some Cambisols, Alisols or Acrisols evolved to Podols (FAO-UNESCO 1985) due to changes in the coverage of crops, which particularly affected the first horizon, where the natural fertility of the soil is located.
 
Literature
go back to reference Adams, Richard (1975). Energy and Structure, University of Texas, Austin. Adams, Richard (1975). Energy and Structure, University of Texas, Austin.
go back to reference Allen, P. M., J.L. Deneubourg, M. Sanglier (1978). “Dynamic Models of Urban Growth”, Informe para el Ministerio del Transporte de Estados Unidos, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Allen, P. M., J.L. Deneubourg, M. Sanglier (1978). “Dynamic Models of Urban Growth”, Informe para el Ministerio del Transporte de Estados Unidos, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
go back to reference Álvarez, Enrique, Úrsula Oswald Spring (1993). “Desnutrición crónica o aguda materno-infantil y retardos en el desarrollo”, Aportes de Investigación 59, Cuernavaca, CRIM-UNAM. Álvarez, Enrique, Úrsula Oswald Spring (1993). “Desnutrición crónica o aguda materno-infantil y retardos en el desarrollo”, Aportes de Investigación 59, Cuernavaca, CRIM-UNAM.
go back to reference Avelar González, Francisco Javier, Elsa Marcela Ramírez López, Ma. Consolación Martínez Saldaña, Alma Lilián Guerrero Barrera, Fernando Jaramillo Juárez (2011). “Water quality in the State of Aguascalientes and its effects in the population’s health, in Úrsula Oswald Spring (Ed.) Water Research in Mexico. Scarcity, Degradation, Stress, Conflicts, Management, and Policy, Berlin - Heidelberg, Springer, pp. 217–230. Avelar González, Francisco Javier, Elsa Marcela Ramírez López, Ma. Consolación Martínez Saldaña, Alma Lilián Guerrero Barrera, Fernando Jaramillo Juárez (2011). “Water quality in the State of Aguascalientes and its effects in the population’s health, in Úrsula Oswald Spring (Ed.) Water Research in Mexico. Scarcity, Degradation, Stress, Conflicts, Management, and Policy, Berlin - Heidelberg, Springer, pp. 217–230.
go back to reference Barkin, David (1977). “Desarrollo regional y reorganización campesina La Chontalpa como reflejo del gran problema agropecuario mexicano”, Comercio Exterior, Vol. 27, No. 12, pp. 1408–1417. Barkin, David (1977). “Desarrollo regional y reorganización campesina La Chontalpa como reflejo del gran problema agropecuario mexicano”, Comercio Exterior, Vol. 27, No. 12, pp. 1408–1417.
go back to reference Beck, Ulrich (2001). Políticas ecológicas en la edad del riesgo, Barcelona, El Roure. Beck, Ulrich (2001). Políticas ecológicas en la edad del riesgo, Barcelona, El Roure.
go back to reference Bennholdt-Thomsen, Veronika, Maria Mies (1999). The Subsistence Perspective: Beyond the Globalized Economy, London, Zen Books. Bennholdt-Thomsen, Veronika, Maria Mies (1999). The Subsistence Perspective: Beyond the Globalized Economy, London, Zen Books.
go back to reference Bennholdt-Thomsen, Veronika, Nicholas Faraclas, Claudia von Werlhof (Eds.) (2001). There is an Alternative. Subsistence and Worldwide Resistance to Corporate Globalization, London, Routledge. Bennholdt-Thomsen, Veronika, Nicholas Faraclas, Claudia von Werlhof (Eds.) (2001). There is an Alternative. Subsistence and Worldwide Resistance to Corporate Globalization, London, Routledge.
go back to reference Boltzmann, Ludwig (1969 [1909]). Wissenschaftliche Abhandlungen, Vol. I, II, III, in F. Hasenöhrl (Ed.), New York, Chelsea. Boltzmann, Ludwig (1969 [1909]). Wissenschaftliche Abhandlungen, Vol. I, II, III, in F. Hasenöhrl (Ed.), New York, Chelsea.
go back to reference Ensanut (2012). Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición. Resultados Nacionales, Cuernavaca, INSP. Ensanut (2012). Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición. Resultados Nacionales, Cuernavaca, INSP.
go back to reference EnsanutMC (2016). Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición de Medio Camino 2016, Cuernavaca, INSP. EnsanutMC (2016). Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición de Medio Camino 2016, Cuernavaca, INSP.
go back to reference FAO (1974). The State of Food and Agriculture 1974, Rome, FAO. FAO (1974). The State of Food and Agriculture 1974, Rome, FAO.
go back to reference FAO [Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations] (1983). World Food Security: a Reappraisal of the Concept and Approaches, Rome, FAO. FAO [Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations] (1983). World Food Security: a Reappraisal of the Concept and Approaches, Rome, FAO.
go back to reference FAO (1985). The State of Food and Agriculture 1985, Rome, FAO. FAO (1985). The State of Food and Agriculture 1985, Rome, FAO.
go back to reference FAO (2000a). A Millennium without Hunger, Rome, FAO. FAO (2000a). A Millennium without Hunger, Rome, FAO.
go back to reference FAO (2000c). The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2000, Rome, FAO. FAO (2000c). The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2000, Rome, FAO.
go back to reference FAO (2010). Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture. Contributing to food security and sustainability in a changing world, Rome, FAO. FAO (2010). Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture. Contributing to food security and sustainability in a changing world, Rome, FAO.
go back to reference FAO (2013). Climate smart agriculture. Sourcebook, Rome, FAO. FAO (2013). Climate smart agriculture. Sourcebook, Rome, FAO.
go back to reference FAO (2014a). El Estado de la Inseguridad Alimentaria en el Mundo, Rome, FAO. FAO (2014a). El Estado de la Inseguridad Alimentaria en el Mundo, Rome, FAO.
go back to reference FAO (2015). Agricultura Mundial: hacia los años 2015–2030, Rome, FAO. FAO (2015). Agricultura Mundial: hacia los años 2015–2030, Rome, FAO.
go back to reference FAO-UNESCO (1985). Soil Map of the World (1: 5,000,000), Revised Legend, Rome, FAO. FAO-UNESCO (1985). Soil Map of the World (1: 5,000,000), Revised Legend, Rome, FAO.
go back to reference Flores Palacios, Fátima (2014). “Senderos de vulnerabilidad de género y sus representaciones sociales en contextos situados”, in Ú. Oswald Spring et al., Vulnerabilidad social y género entre migrantes ambientales, Cuernavaca, CRIM-UNAM, pp. 275–293. Flores Palacios, Fátima (2014). “Senderos de vulnerabilidad de género y sus representaciones sociales en contextos situados”, in Ú. Oswald Spring et al., Vulnerabilidad social y género entre migrantes ambientales, Cuernavaca, CRIM-UNAM, pp. 275–293.
go back to reference Follarí, Roberto (1982). Interdisciplinariedad, Mexico, D.F., UAM-A. Follarí, Roberto (1982). Interdisciplinariedad, Mexico, D.F., UAM-A.
go back to reference Galtung, Johan (1966). Teoría y métodos de la investigación social, Vol. I, Buenos Aires, Ed. Universitaria de Buenos Aires. Galtung, Johan (1966). Teoría y métodos de la investigación social, Vol. I, Buenos Aires, Ed. Universitaria de Buenos Aires.
go back to reference Ganguilhem, G. (19712). La connaissancc de la vie, Paris, I d. Vrin. Ganguilhem, G. (19712). La connaissancc de la vie, Paris, I d. Vrin.
go back to reference Glansdorff, P., I. Prigogine (1971). Thermodynamic theory of structure stability and fluctuations, London, Wiley. Glansdorff, P., I. Prigogine (1971). Thermodynamic theory of structure stability and fluctuations, London, Wiley.
go back to reference IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] (2014). Climate Change 2014. Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Working Group II Contribution to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] (2014). Climate Change 2014. Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Working Group II Contribution to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
go back to reference Margenau, Henry (1970). La naturaleza de la realidad física, Madrid, Ed. Tecnos. Margenau, Henry (1970). La naturaleza de la realidad física, Madrid, Ed. Tecnos.
go back to reference McDonald, Bryan (2016). Food Power. The Rise and Fall of the Postwar American Food System, New York, Oxford University Press. McDonald, Bryan (2016). Food Power. The Rise and Fall of the Postwar American Food System, New York, Oxford University Press.
go back to reference Oswald Spring, Úrsula (1983). “Breves apuntes metodológicos”, en: Piedras en el Surco, Mexico, D.F., UAM-X, pp. 25–31. Oswald Spring, Úrsula (1983). “Breves apuntes metodológicos”, en: Piedras en el Surco, Mexico, D.F., UAM-X, pp. 25–31.
go back to reference Oswald Spring, Úrsula (1986). Sistema alimentario y sociedad: el caso mexicano (SAS), Mexico, D.F., UAM-X, Programa Interdisciplinario de la Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Xochimilco, División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, División de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, División de Ciencias y Artes para el Diseño. Oswald Spring, Úrsula (1986). Sistema alimentario y sociedad: el caso mexicano (SAS), Mexico, D.F., UAM-X, Programa Interdisciplinario de la Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Xochimilco, División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, División de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, División de Ciencias y Artes para el Diseño.
go back to reference Oswald Spring, Úrsula (1991). Estrategias de supervivencia en la Ciudad de México, Cuernavaca, CRIM-UNAM. Oswald Spring, Úrsula (1991). Estrategias de supervivencia en la Ciudad de México, Cuernavaca, CRIM-UNAM.
go back to reference Oswald Spring, Úrsula (2009). “Food as a New Human and Livelihood Security Challenge”, in Hans Günter Brauch et al. (Eds.), Facing Global Environmental Change: Environmental, Human, Energy, Food, Health and Water Security Concepts, Berlin - Heidelberg, Springer, pp. 473–502. Oswald Spring, Úrsula (2009). “Food as a New Human and Livelihood Security Challenge”, in Hans Günter Brauch et al. (Eds.), Facing Global Environmental Change: Environmental, Human, Energy, Food, Health and Water Security Concepts, Berlin - Heidelberg, Springer, pp. 473–502.
go back to reference Oswald Spring, Úrsula, Antonio Flores (1985). Gran Visión y Avance de Investigación del Proyecto Integrado del Golfo, México, D.F., UAM-X, UNRISD, CONACYT, CINVESTAV, IFIAS, COPLADET, PEMEX. Oswald Spring, Úrsula, Antonio Flores (1985). Gran Visión y Avance de Investigación del Proyecto Integrado del Golfo, México, D.F., UAM-X, UNRISD, CONACYT, CINVESTAV, IFIAS, COPLADET, PEMEX.
go back to reference Oswald Spring, Úrsula, Rafael Rodríguez, Antonio Flores (1986). Campesinos, protagonistas de su historia (la Coalición de los Ejidos Colectivos de los Valles del Yaqui y Mayo; una salida a la cultura de la pobreza [Peasants, protagonists of their history (the Coalition of Collective Ejidos of the Yaqui and Mayo Valleys; a solution to their culture of poverty], Mexico, D.F., UAM-X. Oswald Spring, Úrsula, Rafael Rodríguez, Antonio Flores (1986). Campesinos, protagonistas de su historia (la Coalición de los Ejidos Colectivos de los Valles del Yaqui y Mayo; una salida a la cultura de la pobreza [Peasants, protagonists of their history (the Coalition of Collective Ejidos of the Yaqui and Mayo Valleys; a solution to their culture of poverty], Mexico, D.F., UAM-X.
go back to reference Prigogine, Ilya (1994). La estructura de la complejidad, Madrid, Alianza Universidad. Prigogine, Ilya (1994). La estructura de la complejidad, Madrid, Alianza Universidad.
go back to reference Ramsar (20165). An Introduction to the Convention on Wetlands (previously The Ramsar Convention Manual), Gland, Ramsar Convention Secretariat. Ramsar (20165). An Introduction to the Convention on Wetlands (previously The Ramsar Convention Manual), Gland, Ramsar Convention Secretariat.
go back to reference Strahm, Rudolf, Úrsula Oswald Spring (1990). Por esto somos tan pobres, Cuernavaca, CRIM-UNAM. Strahm, Rudolf, Úrsula Oswald Spring (1990). Por esto somos tan pobres, Cuernavaca, CRIM-UNAM.
go back to reference Torres Torres, Felipe, María del Carmen del Valle, Jessica Mariela Tolentino, Erika Martínez López (Eds.) (2016). Reflexiones sobre seguridad alimentaria. Búsqueda y alternativas para el desarrollo en México, México City, IIEc- DGAPA-UNAM. Torres Torres, Felipe, María del Carmen del Valle, Jessica Mariela Tolentino, Erika Martínez López (Eds.) (2016). Reflexiones sobre seguridad alimentaria. Búsqueda y alternativas para el desarrollo en México, México City, IIEc- DGAPA-UNAM.
go back to reference Turrent Fernández, Antonio, Alejandro, Espinosa Calderón, José Isabel Cortés Flores y Hugo Mejía Andrade (2014). “Análisis de la estrategia MasAgro-maíz”, Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas, Vol. 5, No. 8 (November/December), pp. 1531–1547. Turrent Fernández, Antonio, Alejandro, Espinosa Calderón, José Isabel Cortés Flores y Hugo Mejía Andrade (2014). “Análisis de la estrategia MasAgro-maíz”, Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas, Vol. 5, No. 8 (November/December), pp. 1531–1547.
go back to reference Turrent Fernández, Antonio, Timothy A. Wise and Elise Garvey (2013). “Achieving Mexico’s Maize Potential”, in Intern. Conference, New Haven, Yale University, September 14–15. Turrent Fernández, Antonio, Timothy A. Wise and Elise Garvey (2013). “Achieving Mexico’s Maize Potential”, in Intern. Conference, New Haven, Yale University, September 14–15.
go back to reference van Dijk Kocherthaler, Sylvia (2009). Valoración de preescolares comunitarios en el Valle de México desde un enfoque de derechos. Caso Save the Children, PhD Tesis, Pachuca, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo. van Dijk Kocherthaler, Sylvia (2009). Valoración de preescolares comunitarios en el Valle de México desde un enfoque de derechos. Caso Save the Children, PhD Tesis, Pachuca, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo.
go back to reference Vaughan, Genevieve (1997). For-Giving: A Feminist Criticisms of Exchange, Austin, Plain View Press. Vaughan, Genevieve (1997). For-Giving: A Feminist Criticisms of Exchange, Austin, Plain View Press.
go back to reference Via Campesina (2002). “Food sovereignty”, Document distributed during the World Food Summit+5, Rome, Via Campesina. Via Campesina (2002). “Food sovereignty”, Document distributed during the World Food Summit+5, Rome, Via Campesina.
go back to reference Via Campesina (2005). Agreement on Gender in Via Campesina, San Paulo, Via Campesina-MST. Via Campesina (2005). Agreement on Gender in Via Campesina, San Paulo, Via Campesina-MST.
go back to reference Zhao, Yong Dong Zhang, Yonglu Tang, Jiao Wang, Lingyong Zheng (2009). “An optimal model of a agriculture circular system for paddy & edible fungus & dry land”, International Journal of Management Science and Engineering Management, Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 302–310.CrossRef Zhao, Yong Dong Zhang, Yonglu Tang, Jiao Wang, Lingyong Zheng (2009). “An optimal model of a agriculture circular system for paddy & edible fungus & dry land”, International Journal of Management Science and Engineering Management, Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 302–310.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Food System and Society: The Mexican Case
Author
Úrsula Oswald Spring
Copyright Year
2019
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94712-9_15