Retrospective assessment as a tool for the management of sustainability in diversified farms

ABSTRACT

This study develops a proposal of retrospectively assessing sustainability. We selected the diversified farm El Mogor – in Guadalupe Valley, Mexico – with available record-books since 1954. The farm owner provided documentation of 60 years of productive diversification. We analyzed the farm record-books and the data obtained from structured interviews with the MESMIS, Green Rural Enterprises, and Emergy techniques. The farm’s retrospective sustainability was described, evaluated, and represented in instructive diagrams showing the progress and adaptability to external economic, ecological, and social changes through time. The results provide a guideline to continue future evaluations and to recommend its use to other farms.

KEYWORDS:

• Sustainability assessment
• retrospective studies
• diversified farms
• Valle de Guadalupe
• Mexico

Acknowledgments

We thank the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) for the financial support provided to carry out this study as a scholarship. Natalia Badan for her availability, deep interest, strong support to carry out this research, and allowing us to work in her beautiful farm. Also, to Pablo Rojas, Sebastian Rubio, Benito Chino, Rigoberto Ceja Guzmán, and Ivette Ramírez Torrico, employees of El Mogor for supporting us in the interviews and always warmly receiving us. We also thank Sergio Zárate for editing the English version.