Assessing Sustainability in Cattle Silvopastoral Systems in the Mexican Tropics Using the SAFA Framework

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Cattle production is associated with deforestation in tropical Mexico. Silvopastoral systems have been proposed as a feasible alternative for sustainable livestock production and knowledge on their advantages and areas of opportunity, compared to traditional pasture paddocks, is needed for their implementation. This work compares three types of production systems, native and intensive silvopastoral systems and monoculture systems in Yucatán, Mexico, using the Sustainability Assessment for Food and Agriculture (SAFA), which evaluates sustainability in different themes and dimensions. With SAFA, visual representations of overall sustainability or polygons were obtained. Additionally, percentages of SAFA themes positively and negatively valuated were calculated. Native farms had positive ratings for themes related to environmental integrity and Social Well-Being, whereas intensive excelled on Holistic Management. SAFA identified native systems as an option for sustainable production; however, areas of opportunity in all farms were discovered in every dimension. This is the first comparative study using SAFA to evaluate differences in farming systems in the Mexican tropics, and it provides valuable information to generate policies and incentives for sustainable silvopastoral production, as well as to develop new evaluation tools that are more appropriate for this region. ABSTRACT: The sub-humid native rainforest in Yucatan is one of the most endangered in Mexico. Cattle production is one of the main causes of land use change and silvopastoral systems are a feasible alternative. This work compares the sustainable performance of silvopastoral (native and intensive) and monoculture cattle farms in the state of Yucatan using the Sustainability Assessment for Food and Agriculture (SAFA) framework. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were applied in 9 farms. Responses were fed to the SAFA Tool to obtain sustainability polygons. Percentages of SAFA themes positively and negatively valuated were calculated. Native farms had positive ratings for Participation, Land, Biodiversity and Cultural Diversity, whereas intensive excelled on Holistic Management. Native farms had limited ratings for Decent Livelihood. Native farms (and one intensive silvopastoral farm) had the highest percentages of themes positively valuated compared to monocultures (and one intensive silvopastoral farm), which scored the lowest. Positive evaluations identified native systems as an option for sustainable production; however, areas of opportunity in all farms were discovered. This is the first comparative study using SAFA to evaluate differences in farming systems in the Mexican tropics, providing valuable information to generate policies and incentives on sustainable livestock production, as well as for improving evaluation tools for local application.