A case study of the nopal-vegetable agroecosystem in metropolitan Mexico City was conducted to evaluate the crop's economic productivity and sustainability using economic, social, and environmental indicators. Economic indicators were based on a gross margin analysis, commercialization strategies, and provision of employment. Social indicators were education level, family size, origin of laborers, plot size providing a measure of equity, and social self-organization. Environmental indicators were soil nutrient content and fertilizer application, technological management, and crop and natural biodiversity. Information on relevant social, technological, and economic elements was obtained through structured interviews with 100 producers of the city's nopalproducing zone of Milpa Alta in the hills southeast of Mexico City. Analysis of soil samples from cropped fields at three different depths was conducted, along with a study of nopal-associated weed species used by the community. Net income per ha was equivalent to 4 minimum wages. Estimated scores of 89, 74, and 64 (on a scale of 0 to 100) were obtained for social, economic, and environmental sustainability indicators, respectfully, for this unique cropping system. Discussion focuses on trade-offs between indicators, the cost of achieving sustainability in the metropolitan zone of Mexico City, and appropriate policy responses.

Dual-purpose cattle systems are among the most important livestock production systems in tropical regions, contributing significantly to food production and rural livelihoods. However, their considerable diversity in management practices, resource endowments, producer-reported climatic stressors, and production intensity remains insufficiently characterized for effective policy design. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and characterize farm typologies by integrating productive, structural, environmental, and management dimensions and to describe differences in farm-system vulnerability among them. Data were collected from 132 commercial farms using structured surveys. Twenty-three variables were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis of which 22 reached the predefined absolute loading threshold for component interpretation. The resulting component scores were subsequently used in the hierarchical cluster analysis. Seven principal components with eigenvalues > 1 were identified, explaining 68.87% of the total variance. Cluster 1 comprised extensive, milk-oriented farms with the lowest milk productivity but the greatest pasture availability and diversity; nevertheless, these farms were particularly affected by drought. Cluster 2 represented the predominant dual-purpose model, with intermediate productive, environmental, and diversification characteristics. Cluster 3 included more intensive and productive farms with limited land availability, the lowest soil conservation and pasture availability scores, high maintenance expenditure, and low investment capacity. Cluster 4 showed the highest milk productivity but also the greatest exposure to excessive rainfall and northerly winds. Accordingly, appropriate strategies should prioritize drought preparedness and forage conservation in Cluster 1, gradual improvements in efficiency and environmental management in Cluster 2, soil and pasture restoration and reduced maintenance dependence in Cluster 3, and climate-resilient infrastructure and risk-management measures in Cluster 4. These findings demonstrate that dual-purpose cattle systems are highly heterogeneous systems structured by multiple productive, environmental, and organizational dimensions. The results demonstrate that typology-specific interventions are more appropriate than uniform recommendations and provide a framework for improving productivity, sustainability, and climate resilience in tropical livestock systems.

Gran parte de las tierras en La Laguna han sido vendidas para ser transformadas de tierras productoras de alimentos para el humano a corrales y tierras que producen forraje para el ganado lechero. En Las Mercedes existen personas que refuerzan constantemente la permanencia de cultivos tradicionales, la resistencia y la recuperación de territorios ejidales (tierras que el Estado dota a los campesinos para la agricultura) en La Laguna para su conservación bajo los principios del Zapatismo (movimiento formado en el año 1983 en Chiapas, México). El principio zapatista emblemático de los campesinos que han luchado por las tierras para la agricultura representados con la frase célebre de Emiliano Zapata “Tierra y Libertad” se ve puesto a prueba. Para la presente investigación se utilizó una metodología cualitativa ¨historias de vida¨. Los resultados obtenidos permitieron comprender la cosmovisión de las personas hacia sus tierras y el porqué de su lucha por la resistencia. Las problemáticas actuales requieren investigaciones dirigidas al abandono de las tierras y la ruptura generacional que enfrenta el campo.