Introduction

Through this exhibition, we will show some reflections concerning polyculture as an

essential community practice for the conservation of biological, food and cultural diversity
of Mexico, and decisions made by people who work on the milpa, showing the relevance of
traditional and biological knowledges.

Milpa. Espacio y Tiempo Sagrado (Space and Sacred Time), it also shows the biodiversity
and cultural diversity of Mexico, which are exposed in the countless variety of milpas
according to each region. This exhibition expresses its validity and potential through healthy
foods needed, and culturally related; emphasizing the cultural expressions it generates and
placing it as an important element of the diversity and cultural plurality of Mexico.

Mexico, origin of the milpa

Mesoamerica is one of the places in the world where farming was created. In most places,
monoculture (to sow a single crop at a time) was chosen. While in Mesoamerica, polyculture
(where several crops are farmed at a time) was preferred. This originated the milpa (an
important contribution), since it is a replica of nature that allows biodiversity.

The milpa is a same plot where several crops are farmed at a same time, as well as wild
plants which presence has been fostered by farmers due to their nutritional or medicinal
value.

Through observation, hunter/harvesters could discover nature, and domesticate plants

from their wild relatives, reaching the best techniques and optimal utilization for farming.

People who work on the milpa

In the milpas of the different regions, men and women working in farming continue the
processes of nature observation, domestication and adaptation of plants. So, this is how
they update the knowledges inherited from their ancestors.

With these knowledges, they could domesticate plants that met their needs, and kept
sowing like that due to the multiple advantages of the milpa.

Work in the milpa is communitarian, and there is a continuous transmission of generational

knowledge. Families sowing the milpa feed themselves, they are autonomous and provide
at least 50 % of staple food. They are a determining factor for food production in our country.
 Biocultural diversity of milpa

Mexico ranks fifth in biodiversity in the world. In addition, there are different ethnic groups
that speak their own languages (around 69 indigenous languages plus their variants.) This
coincidence between biodiversity and cultural diversity happens in few places in the world,
a real privilege.

These two elements are shown in the diversity achieved in domesticated plants in our
country. The milpa is a clear example of this, since each region tends to farm the same staple
crops and their variants: maize, beans, chilies, squash, tomatoes, as well as quelites (edible
herbs).

Although the milpa is a common farming and cultural concept for communities, biological
and cultural diversity is stated in what is sown and harvested.

Crops of the milpa

Each crop of the milpa is an example of biodiversity that has allowed to face the different
environmental conditions, and the nutritional needs.

The most notable case is maize, there are about 60 breeds of maize and thousands of
varieties. The domesticated bean that grows in the milpa belongs to a variety called “stick
bean”. Seventy out of one hundred species of this legume are native from Mexico, making
it the centre of origin and diversity of these two crops. There are also around 200 varieties
of chilies that provide nutrients and a variety of flavors to Mexican cuisine.

In the milpa there are 244 species of quelites (another example of biodiversity), which are
edible. Other crops in the milpa are amaranth, chia and huauzontle.

Knowledge, tastes and expressions of the milpa

The milpa sets the time in the peasant communities because it is linked to the necessary
tasks for farm works and the specific ceremonies. Thus, the farming ceremonial calendar
was mixed with the Catholic calendar, and celebrations of certain saints usually coincides
with activities related to farming such as blessing seeds, sowing, asking for rain, the first
corns, and harvesting. These activities are a collective collaboration that strengthens unity
in the communities.

Dance, music, masks, pictures made of seeds, ceramics, textiles, carpets of sawdust or
colored sand, garlands, flower collars and/or breads are offered to the saints. For this
diversity, Mexico is one of the richest countries, culturally speaking.
 Future of the milpa

Food production has been a platform for the generation, transmission and differentiated
application of multiple knowledges, techniques and technologies, so today two ways of
doing farming coexist: industry and traditional/family.

Today, the effects of climate change show the limits of intensive farming, because it has
contributed to the degradation of land and water resources, along with other negative
effects on the environment.

The role of traditional farming such as milpa is essential for the conservation of biological
diversity linked to food production and conservation of the environment, making it a
solution to the problems of hunger in the world, a sustainable and inclusive way.