Spatial and Temporal Changes in Crop Species Production Diversity in Mexico (1980–2020)

Crop species diversity is a key component of agroecosystem resilience, food system stability, ecosystem services production, and sustainable development. Despite its importance, quantitative understanding crop often lacking. This study assesses changes in production Mexico from 1980 to 2020 at state, regional, national levels. Measures richness effective (alpha, beta, gamma) were derived government data on 304 species, each stratified into rainfed irrigated components. Time series these components reveal three main findings: (1) generally increased during the period, especially among fruits, vegetables, spices herbs, ornamental crops; (2) crops was about two times higher than crops, despite comprising small fraction total cultivated area; (3) dramatically after implementation North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 1994—though most increases occurred dry northern regions where depended unsustainable irrigation. In sum, findings show that while can contribute numerous forms sustainability, not all diversification processes derive agroecologically-based, intensification. Mexico, associated with post-1994 boom produce exports United States use scarce water resources home. Such context-specific crucial for determining whether diversification, forms, ultimately leads outcomes.