Reinventing Mexico’s floating garden agriculture to protect biodiversity — including the endangered (and iconic) axolotl salamander!

Authors: Eliza Peterson, Gabe Tavas, Rafael Calado, Sibu Saman, Thaís Fabrizzi Cavalieri, Yuri Leão, and Bianca Weihs

The indigenous of Xochimilco developed highly efficient and biodiverse farming practices that are now at risk due to commercialization. Our team is dedicated to revitalizing these practices for future generations and the unique wildlife there.

Enhancing Farming through Tech

Our project enhances the well-being of farmers in Xochimilco by combining new technology developed at UNAM FabLab with traditional practices to boost productivity and reduce physical strain. By utilizing digital fabrication techniques like laser cutting, CNC routing, and Arduino sensors, we can shorten an 8-hour planting process to just 5 minutes. This saves time and energy, enabling farmers to expand their operations, invest in new ventures, and expand revenue, making long-term farming more attractive for them and their families.

Farmer’s Cooperative

We have also worked with the Institute of Biology at UNAM, as well as some local farmers, to develop a Business Model Canvas for a Farmer’s Cooperative. This cooperative will create incentives for farmers to implement environmentally friendly practices and axolotl refuges in return for prime market space and capital. It will also provide jobs to youth who may be less interested in physical labor, but want to use other skills for this work.

Reclaiming Xochimilco

As more people are persuaded to stay in the farming business, we can reclaim land for farming—currently, only 3% of Xochimilco’s land employs these traditional methods. This will significantly increase the number of products produced and processed, as well as contribute  to food security for Mexico City by providing locally sourced produce.

Finally, the rescue of this heritage is inseparably connected to the future livelihood of axolotls and other biodiversity. As farmers expand their resources and earning power, as more land is converted to farmland, and as more farmers join the collaborative, more axolotl refuges can be installed. The integration of biofilters in a greater area of Xochimilco’s waters fosters interconnected breeding grounds for axolotl, benefiting both the environment and local biodiversity.

Conclusion

As we work with cutting-edge technology to revitalize traditional wisdom, we can save both the heritage and biodiversity of Xochimilco.

We appreciate the work done by UNAM Fablab, the Institute of Biology at UNAM, and the local Chinamperos for their contributions. All pictures were taken by our team members.