The Avocado Boom: Transformation of the Socioecological Landscape of Michoacán, Mexico

Keywords: food systems, land change, deforestation, socioecological
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

The boom in avocado consumption has transformed the landscape of Michoacán, Mexico – one of the largest avocado-producing regions in the world. Local producers have voiced concern about rate at which the forest is vanishing, as they scramble to keep up with demand. This deforestation has been shown to cause biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and water scarcity. In addition to ecological impact, avocado profits have attracted increased involvement of warring cartels, causing extortion of producers and escalating violence in the wider community. The research presented here investigates the spatial footprint of avocado expansion, with a land change model that examines past deforestation and projects avocado expansion into the future according to physical and social landscape variables. Additionally, an analysis of ecosystem carbon assesses how landscape heterogeneity affects the amount of carbon lost to such land change. Finally, a social impact analysis explores the economic inequity and cartel involvement in the avocado production system, including a spatial link to forced migration out of the region.