Recent political and economic events have had a devastating impact on traditional food production the southern Mexican state of Chiapas and throughout Mexico. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) dismantled trade regulations, resulting in a flood of highly subsidized corn into Mexico, which undercut peasant producers. Changes in land tenure have led to the privatization of communally held lands, forcing many small farmers to seek jobs in Mexican cities or to migrate to the United States. In response, small farmers and indigenous Mayans are fighting to defend their territories and communities—combining traditional methods of food production with modern scientific approaches based in agroecology. Chiapas holds beautiful colonial cities, Mayan ruins, tropical rainforest, high mountains, and a rich culture. Learn about the challenges to food and water sovereignty in Chiapas and the solutions proposed by social movements such as the Zapatistas.
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