Water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) is a floating hydrophyte plant considered one of the 100 most harmful invasive alien species in the world. Its main uses have been developed along three lines: (1) control, (2) eradication, and (3) wastewater bioremediation. The objective of this work was to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) focused on the documented uses of Pontederia crassipes, and to determine if there is evidence of its use as a raw material (plant biomass) for the generation of biodegradable products. This systematic literature review was conducted in six international databases, considering three inclusion criteria and three exclusion criteria. The available information about Pontederia crassipes showed a small percentage of studies aimed at the use of its biomass as a raw material for the creation of various biodegradable products, such as cardboard, paper, packaging and some other products, since this species is adaptable and prolific in multiple regions of Mexico.

Conventional aquaculture (ACUA-C) in Mexico is an activity that maintains an annual growth rate of 6%. Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) aquaculture is the predominant aquaculture in the country with 4623 farms, most of which operate with semi-intensive (SIS) and extensive (ES) production systems, discharging untreated wastewater that negatively impacts the environment. To address this problem, new ecotechnologies such as biofloc (BFT), recirculation systems for aquaculture (RAS), constructed wetlands (CWs) for water treatment, and aquaponics (AS) have emerged to mitigate the environmental impacts of untreated wastewater. The objective of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of tilapia farming with BFT, RAS, CW, and AS ecotechnologies through an economic and financial feasibility analysis, considering their environmental and social implications in a Mexican aquaculture farm located in the state of Veracruz. Open interviews, direct observation, and diagnosis of the semi-intensive tilapia system was carried out between 15 May 2019 and 15 February 2020 in order to calculate, design, and theoretically evaluate the four ecotechnological alternatives (TBF, RAS, CW, and AS). Economic (13), environmental (10), and social (5) variables were applied, making use of the same facilities. The results reveal that the four ecotechnologies implemented in an SIS are economically viable and environmentally acceptable, especially in water management, in addition to being socially feasible. It is concluded that BFT offers an alternative to the producer by having a lower additional cost to improve problems, despite the possible complexity of operation and energy requirements to manage wastewater treatment. The technological transition to BFT is recommended to solve the problem of sustainable water management.

For many years, the genus Capsicum has been widely utilized in food products due to its hot and spicy flavor, derived from the phytochemical compounds present in most species and varieties. Capsaicinoids, recognized by their aroma, flavor, and pungency effects, have traditionally commanded the spotlight. However, recent researchers have shown a special interest in other compounds present in Capsicum fruit matrices, attributing positive health effects to them. Numerous studies have focused on the application of processes and the evaluation of extraction parameters to maximize yield and improve extract composition. This involves reducing solvent consumption, extraction time, environmental impact, and other aspects related to extraction procedures. Furthermore, extraction techniques play an important role in the bioactivity of extracts, prompting several efforts to assess their potential applications in foods. This review presents a comprehensive study of the extraction techniques applied to obtain bioactive compounds from the fruits of the Capsicum genus and explores their applications in food products.

La política ambiental en México se desarrolla bajo un esquema de gobernanza multinivel que asigna a los municipios responsabilidades relevantes en la prevención y control de la contaminación, particularmente mediante instrumentos de planeación ambiental. Este estudio evalúa el grado de cumplimiento de dichas obligaciones en ocho municipios metropolitanos del estado de Veracruz. Se emplea un diseño metodológico mixto con enfoque evaluativo y comparativo subnacional. Primero se analizó el marco jurídico federal y estatal para identificar las obligaciones municipales en materia de planeación ambiental. Posteriormente se verificó su cumplimiento mediante observación estructurada de los instrumentos de planeación municipal correspondientes a tres periodos de gobierno (2014–2017, 2018–2021 y 2022–2025). Los resultados muestran un bajo nivel de institucionalización de estas obligaciones y evidencian una brecha entre regulación y cumplimiento, asociada a la transferencia de responsabilidades ambientales hacia los municipios sin un fortalecimiento proporcional de sus capacidades técnicas y financieras. El estudio propone recomendaciones para fortalecer la gobernanza ambiental local.

El aumento en el uso de envases de diversos materiales ha generado problemas ambientales a nivel global. Para mitigar este impacto, se han desarrollado envases biodegradables durante más de cuarenta años. Sin embargo, existe un escaso conocimiento acerca de la opinión de la sociedad, lo que podría dificultar la aplicación de soluciones efectivas para abordar esta problemática. Este estudio tiene como objetivo analizar la opinión de la sociedad sobre el uso de estos empaques en la Zona Metropolitana de Xalapa, Veracruz, México (ZMX). Se aplicaron encuestas con preguntas cerradas a 2,221 individuos mayores de 15 años en 9 municipios de la ZMX. Se encontró que el 88 % de los encuestados eran conscientes del impacto ambiental de los residuos plásticos, aunque el 39 % desconocía los envases biodegradables disponibles en el mercado. Sin embargo, una parte significativa de los encuestados mostró una actitud positiva hacia la adopción de estos envases si están fácilmente disponibles en el mercado. Se sugiere implementar políticas públicas y programas de educación ambiental para promover la correcta separación de residuos y dar a conocer las opciones de envases biodegradables en la ZMX.