Public policies affecting the development of urban agriculture in Mexico City

摘要

ThispaperlooksatpoliciesthatoperateintheMexicoCityMetropolitanAreaandthepracticeofurbanagriculturethathasevolvedfromdifferentpre-Hispanicagriculturalecosystemsintoitscurrentforms,inwhichurbanproducershaveshownthemselvesabletoadapttheirproductionsystemstovaryingconditionssuchastheavailabilityofinputsandspaces.Urbanization,thepopulationexplosionandthehighratesofimmigrationintoMexicoCitycausedanintensificationoftheuseofavailablespace,andbotheconomichegemonyandinternationalinfluencessetinmotionaprocessofexpulsionofthecity#8217;surbanagriculture.Howeverurbanproducersremainandthisactivityisrecognizedasatooland#8220;desirablepractice#8221;inthesearchforsustainablecitieswherekeyfactorsarepolicyandplanning.ThecurrentlegislationandthepoliticalenvironmentinMexicoCityarecontradictorytourbanagriculture,andparticularlytotheraisingofanimals,onpublichealthgroundsalthoughthispositionisnotsupportedbysolidscientificevidence.Despitethis,urbanagriculturestandsoutasanactivitywithpotentialtocontributetothesustainabledevelopmentofthecity.