How dietary transition changed land use in Mexico

• Published in: Ambio Vol. 49; no. 10; pp. 1676 - 1684
• Main Authors: Tello, José, Garcillán, Pedro P., Ezcurra, Exequiel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Science + Business Media 01-10-2020; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural land; Animal-based foods; Atmospheric Sciences; Crop production; Developing countries; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Environment; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental impact; Environmental Management; Food; Food consumption; Food sources; Forage crops; Land use; LDCs; Livestock; Livestock production; Nutrition; Physical Geography; RESEARCH ARTICLE; Mexico; Livestock production; Environmental impacts of agriculture; Nutrition transition; Sustainability; Land-use change; Food system
• ISSN: 0044-7447; 1654-7209
• DOI: 10.1007/s13280-020-01317-9

The nutrition transition towards western diets in developing countries occurs at multiple levels, impacting health and society and also the environment. In Mexico, the shift in food consumption and production patterns, particularly in relation to animal source foods (ASF), has changed land use. We studied the consumption and production of ASF and change in agricultural land use in Mexico during the second half of the twentieth century and until 2013; using domestic and international data sources, our findings show an increasing proportion of farmed area devoted to the production of feed crops domestically, and also an increasing demand of farmed feed beyond national borders. We discuss how the intensification of livestock production is associated to major environmental threats and suggest that opportunities are available for sustainable and healthy food options.