Local Maize, territorialized peasant agriculture and its tensions in Latin America

Abstract

Although the valuation of territorialized agriculture has worked in Europe as a policy to favor it over free trade, it has had difficulties developing in Latin America. The objective of this study is to identify the tensions that local maize can face in territorialized agriculture. The current debates of these agricultures regarding the appropriation of plant genetic resources, fair trade and food sovereignty are addressed, illustrating with several Latin American examples. It is concluded that under the current Mexican context, local maize can be an element in dispute, as has happened with other foods, so the challenge for peasants will be to develop organizational and political capacities that allow them to defend themselves against other actors and take advantage of the alternative market opportunities.

Keywords: Appropriation. Fair trade. Food sovereignty. Localized agri-food systems (LAFS). Local products with protected designation of origin (PDO).