SADER Underscores Important Growth in the Agricultural Sector

Among this week’s top stories, Mexico’s agrifood sector has experienced sustained growth in basic grain production. Meanwhile, INIFAP and SADER discuss the goals of INIFAP’s 2023 Agenda.

Ready for more? Here is your weekly roundup!

Basic Grain Production Continues to Grow: SADER

According to SADER, Mexico’s agrifood sector has experienced sustained growth in corn, beans, rice and wheat production, going from 31.5 million t in 2018 to 32.3 million t in 2021. For the closing of 2022, the ministry expects a total volume of 33,9 million t. During an assembly of the National Chamber of Industrialized Corn, Marcela Martínez, President, CANAMI, highlighted that the chamber has 72 industrial plants, enabling it to meet a demand for eight million t of corn and accounting for 18% of the domestic consumption. Meanwhile, Victor Villalobos predicted good production prospects for 2023. Regarding corn, grain production in Sonora and Sinaloa is expected to reach between 6.5 and 7 million t this year.

INIFAP Presents 2023 Work Plan

Luis Ángel Rodríguez, Head, the National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research, met with Víctor Villalobos, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to present INIFAP’s agenda for 2023. Rodríguez pointed out that activities for this year include research, bio-inputs training schemes, soil fertility conservation for corn, wheat and sorghum production systems, as well as citrus buds and coffee bean production. Villalobos stressed that INIFAP's innovations and technology transfers are essential to confronting the impact of climate change, which is getting more severe.

FIRA Gears Up to Apply Innovative Strategy in Barley Production

Ninety-nine percent of barley production in the Central Mexican Plateau is destined for the brewing industry and is rainfed, which increases the risk that adverse weather effects such as droughts, frosts and hail pose. As a response, FIRA will develop an innovation management strategy to offset barley production problems like unstable yields and low-quality grain in this region. The fund will base its strategy on innovations including: incorporation of organic matter in the soil, soil analysis at the beginning of the cycle to determine the appropriate fertilization dose and the use of drones to apply agrochemicals. 

Achieving Maize Systems Mitigation Potential Amid Steady Yields

A recent study from CIMMYT and partners estimates that, at present, Mexico’s total maize output could achieve an N2O emission reduction potential of 33 percent by reducing excess N use or application in maize fields across the country, especially in the high-production areas. Moreover, they have also found that Mexico has a mitigation potential of 7.91 million tons (Mt) of carbon dioxide (CO2) from crop production. In this regard, CIMMYT aims to help deliver the transformation of Mexico’s corn systems by implementing collaborative agronomic research with local partners in field trials. 

The Secret to Sustainable, Healthy Food? Crickets

Griyum is a company that makes functional ingredients out of edible crickets that can be used by other companies to make snacks with the optimal nutritional balance. According to Alejandro de la Brena, Griyum co-founder, insects as an alternative food source contain up to 75% of protein by dry weight as well as iron and other micronutrients. Moreover, it takes only 4% of natural resources to produce the volume of crickets equivalent to a cow. In 2023, the company will focus on bringing together the food service industry and large corporations through an event in which food innovators can discuss achieving a sustainable future through collaboration.