Mexican maize production: Evolving organizational and spatial structures since 1980

Abstract

Maize has long been one of the most important crops produced in Mexico. The importance of maize stems not only from its role in national economic output, but also because of its strong connections to Mexican culture and, especially, the key role it plays in supporting rural livelihoods. The past 15 years have witnessed dramatic institutional and economic changes that are impacting maize production. Some are well known, such as increasing market integration under NAFTA, while others are less well known, such as the changes in irrigated land use. After an overview of the key changes that impact maize consumption and production since 1980, we provide a detailed description of changes both to the structure of production and to the spatial organization of this production. We close with a discussion of the interplay of changes to production and consumption and the associated changes in livelihood risk, food security, and political security.