Assessing Sustainability in Cattle Silvopastoral Systems in the Mexican Tropics Using the SAFA Framework.

Fernanda Pérez-Lombardini,Gerardo Suzán,Julio Campo,Francisco Galindo,Javier Solorio,Karen F Mancera

doi:10.3390/ani11010109

Abstract

The sub-humid native rainforest in Yucatan is one of the most endangered in Mexico. Cattle production is one of the main causes of land use change and silvopastoral systems are a feasible alternative. This work compares the sustainable performance of silvopastoral (native and intensive) and monoculture cattle farms in the state of Yucatan using the Sustainability Assessment for Food and Agriculture (SAFA) framework. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were applied in 9 farms. Responses were fed to the SAFA Tool to obtain sustainability polygons. Percentages of SAFA themes positively and negatively valuated were calculated. Native farms had positive ratings for Participation, Land, Biodiversity and Cultural Diversity, whereas intensive excelled on Holistic Management. Native farms had limited ratings for Decent Livelihood. Native farms (and one intensive silvopastoral farm) had the highest percentages of themes positively valuated compared to monocultures (and one intensive silvopastoral farm), which scored the lowest. Positive evaluations identified native systems as an option for sustainable production; however, areas of opportunity in all farms were discovered. This is the first comparative study using SAFA to evaluate differences in farming systems in the Mexican tropics, providing valuable information to generate policies and incentives on sustainable livestock production, as well as for improving evaluation tools for local application.

Highlights

Tropical deforestation to obtain grazing paddocks has a great impact on biodiversity and environmental service
It is possible that the differences found in other studies assessing systems similar to the ones evaluated here are merely a result of applying a useful, yet less comprehensive Sustainability Assessment for Food and Agriculture (SAFA) approach. This is the first study undertaking the comparison of Native Silvopastoral Systems (NS), Intensified Silvopastoral Systems (IS) and Monoculture Systems (MS) with the use of the SAFA framework in the Mexican tropics’ livestock production sector
The information generated by this study provides useful information on the approach of assessing trade-offs and synergies by using protocols such as the SAFA framework

Summary

Introduction

Tropical deforestation to obtain grazing paddocks has a great impact on biodiversity and environmental service. It is necessary to find new strategies to guarantee food security in rural areas, methods to increase animal production, and strategies to mitigate climate change. Silvopastoral systems (cattle raised in paddocks associated with trees and shrubs) are an alternative as they associate with increased photosynthetic rates, nitrogen fixation, nutrient recycling, biomass production and organic matter in soil [6]. These promote better animal welfare and the continuation of environmental services, such as carbon sequestration, water preservation, soil rehabilitation and biodiversity conservation [7]

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Conclusion