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A Mexican palm oil sector at the crossroads of environmental and social challenges

Mexico, which imports 60% of the palm oil it consumes, is working to strengthen its food sovereignty. Palm oil production in the country is largely based on family farms, with 90% of producers cultivating less than 20 hectares of plantations, making it a potential driver of economic development in rural areas. The State is promoting agroecological transition in the agricultural sector by supporting agroforestry.

OptIPalMex is intended to address these challenges by proposing an innovative model combining agroforestry, biodiversity and economic viability. It aims to demonstrate that sustainable production can be achieved, while strengthening the resilience of farms.

A collaborative network to rethink palm oil production

OptIPalMex brings together farmers, nursery growers, oil mills, NGOs and researchers around a shared challenge: supporting actors in the sector towards greater sustainability by accompanying agro-ecological innovations and facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogue.

Methodology:

• TerrAgro strategic game: a role-playing exercise used to simulate the economic management of farms and to optimise strategies for land use as well as for cash flow and investment planning.
• Personalised support: each farmer designs their planting project over both space and time. Associated crops are positioned and growing periods are planned. Annual intercrops are thus grown for three years, while fruit trees and forest species are permanently associated with the palm trees, but may be planted or cut at different times.
• Participatory research: technical and agronomic monitoring of the 57 experimental plantations (200 ha) designed in this way, assessing the impact of the models on productivity, profitability and biodiversity.
• Multi-stakeholder dialogue: workshops and role-playing exercises with public actors, industrial representatives and NGOs to foster the adoption of sustainable practices at the national level.

What impacts for producers and the Mexican palm oil sector?

OptIPalMex aims to deliver tangible changes for stakeholders in the sector:

• For farmers:
  • the adoption of agroforestry systems combining profitability and ecosystem preservation;
  • enhanced skills in agroecology and investment strategy through the TerrAgro tool.
• For institutional actors:
  • the integration of sustainability issues into public policies and value chains;
  • the establishment of dialogue mechanisms for a collective transition towards responsible practices.