Data_Sheet_2_Urban agroecology enhances agrobiodiversity and resilient, biocultural food systems. The case of the semi-dryland and medium-sized Querétaro City, Mexico.xlsx

Small-scale agroecological practices in the urban areas of Querétaro, México, as in other mid-sized cities, could maintain agrobiodiversity pools and sufficient productivity for a food sovereignty baseline. The application of agroecological principles fosters agrobiodiversity and socio-ecological resilience in urban food production. Emerging urban gardens result from an immediate necessity for food that does not appear in local statistics, nor is there any account of them in any cadastral source or land register of Querétaro City. Based on studies of 28 urban gardens, we survey and analyze farming practices using socio-ecological resilience methodologies and the Diagnostic Survey of Agroecological Practices. We find that the agroecological management of urban gardens results in significantly more species richness than in conventionally managed plots, likely due to the multifunctional purposes associated with biocultural memory. The number of social actors participating in agroecological management is increasing. It represents an urban strategy of resilience that contributes to enhancing the microclimate and nutrient cycling, as well as to improving water management and biodiversity. Results also indicate that gardens of approximately 200 m2 harbor the highest levels of agrobiodiversity. This area size for home vegetable production appears optimal for user-friendly management practices in urban settings and could represent the minimum benchmark for a family and a goal for urban planning and policy recommendations. Urban gardens contribute to the adaptive capacities of city dwellers to enhance their food security and sovereignty. Therefore, given that 70% of the national population face some level of food insecurity, we argue that, along with the protection of land-use rights, the promotion of a diverse urban landscape could improve long-term socio-ecological and food supply resilience. Additionally, urban gardens promote neighborhood social inclusion and affordable access to food. The empirical results and insights from this study in Querétaro can inform land-use policies for urban agriculture more broadly, especially in Latin American metropolitan areas.

墨西哥Querétaro市及其他中型城市的小规模农业生态实践，能够维持农业生物多样性库和满足粮食主权基础的生产力。应用农业生态原则促进了城市食品生产的农业生物多样性和社会-生态韧性。新兴的城市花园源于对食物的直接需求，这种需求并未出现在当地的统计数据中，也未被任何地籍或Querétaro市土地登记所记录。基于对28个城市花园的研究，我们采用社会-生态韧性方法和农业生态实践诊断调查，对种植实践进行了调查和分析。我们发现，城市花园的农业生态管理比传统管理地块具有显著更高的物种丰富度，这很可能归因于与生物文化记忆相关的多功能目的。参与农业生态管理的社会行为者数量正在增加。这代表着一种城市韧性策略，有助于改善微气候和养分循环，以及提高水资源管理和生物多样性。结果还表明，约200平方米的花园承载着最高的农业生物多样性水平。这种面积对于家庭蔬菜生产而言，在城区环境中似乎是最优的管理实践，并且可能代表家庭和城市规划和政策建议的最低基准。城市花园有助于提高城市居民的适应性，增强他们的食物安全和主权。因此，鉴于全国70%的人口面临某种程度的食物不安全，我们认为，除了保护土地使用权利外，推广多样化的城市景观可以提高长期的社会-生态和食品供应韧性。此外，城市花园还促进了社区的社会包容性和食品的平价获取。本研究在Querétaro的实证结果和洞察可以为城市农业的土地利用政策提供更广泛的指导，特别是在拉丁美洲大都市区。