GEOSPATIAL IMPACT OF INVASIVE SPECIES ON MEXICAN AGRICULTURE: THE NEXT THREAT TO FOOD SECURITY

Abstract

Throughout history, the natural movement and dispersal of species between different regions
constitutes an integral component within their population dynamics. However, this phenomenon has
increased in the last 150 years, as human beings increase the capacity to move large volumes of
food and people, as a result of trade and globalization. As a result of the above, the phytosanitary
impact on the regions and agrosystems has been very strong, causing among other effects: the
decrease in biodiversity, economic losses, as well as the closing of borders to agri-food goods that
endanger food security. In this context, in the last 20 years, more than 31 pests and diseases have
entered Mexican territory, which have impacted 12 strategic product systems, including citrus
(especially lemon and orange), sugar cane, oilseeds, avocado, tomato, potato, grape citrus, papaya,
banana and vegetables such as red tomato. This means an enormous financial cost for the Mexican
State, because these 31 pests have the capacity to reduce food production between 20% and 100%
according to the records that are kept in the countries of origin of these pests. In the case of Mexico,
the greatest impact is reflected in subsistence producers, who do not have the resources to face this
problem; Furthermore, these pests directly or indirectly impact around 4,920,361 production units,
which represent an annual value of US $ 17,326,173. Within this panorama, geography, through
spatio-temporal analysis studies and the characterization of the epidemiological landscape, allow us
to know the parameters and variables that favor the introduction, dispersal and spread of invasive
pests and diseases, thereby contributing to the mitigation of the environmental impact and economic
cost.