SUSTAINABILITY PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF AN AGROECOLOGICAL PROPOSE IN THE SUBTROPICAL CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF MEXICO

Abstract

The sustainability assessment by systemic approaches,   has received attention recently because of its potential as a tool for decision making. Moreover, the universitary experimental farms are required to comply with substantive  University functions of research, teaching and extension, as well as being environmentally and economically sustainable. In this work was evaluated a universitary farm located in the subtropics of the Central Highlands of Mexico. The first phase of the study involved the characterization, diagnosis and initial evaluation, in that were identified and prioritized the major problems of the system, and for each were proposed solutions from an agro-ecological approach. Subsequently were selected and measured 14 indicators of environmental, economic and social development. The results show low levels in most of the indicators, as a result of low integration between subsystems and the absence of resource conservation practices. The methodology was useful in broadening the understanding of ecosystemic  processes and for the planning of technical and alternative solutions.