, a Professor of Economics and Business at the in Mexico, and Sarah Schmidt, PhD, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at 鶹ӰԺ, have been working on an impactful international project since 2018. Their collaborative effort has been empowering small-scale farmers using unique farming techniques while preserving cultural heritage. This multi-year, interdisciplinary partnership between universities and communities is making a significant social impact, with far-reaching potential for sustainability.
The Chinampa Farming System: Preserving an Ancient Tradition
The project’s core is focused on the Chinampa system, an indigenous farming method that dates back to the Aztec Empire. This technique involves creating artificial islands on the surface of a lake (where Mexico City is now) to cultivate crops, which has been passed down through generations. Schmidt tells us, “the Chinampa system is the only indigenous growing technique that has survived in the Americas.”
Today, however, these “floating farms” face significant challenges, primarily due to urban expansion and land development. Urban development is the biggest threat to the Chinampa system. Rivas and Schmidt recognize that without intervention, the area could lose these historically significant farming methods.
Rivas and Schmidt’s joint project aims to support these farmers and protect the Chinampa system. The long-term goal is to achieve sustainability through applied projects, ensuring the farmers can continue their traditional practices and preserve the land. At the same time, they aim to promote economic inclusion and reduce poverty for the communities involved, creating a balanced approach between modernization and cultural preservation. Overall, they hope to turn the Chinampa system into a model for sustainable farming and urban conservation, thus mitigating the pressures of urban expansion on the region.
Student Impacts
For the last four years, a multidisciplinary group of students from 鶹ӰԺ and The University of Panamericana have contributed to the growth of this work. Each year, 10-15 students participate, bringing their knowledge from fields like engineering, environmental science, business, and political science. The students’ backgrounds and expertise ensure that the project remains adaptable, shifting its focus to best meet the evolving needs of the farmers. Students get to use their unique skills to design and implement their own projects. Some of the students even return for multiple years to continue their projects because they enjoyed the work so much.
The program, which takes place as a study abroad program during spring break, is designed to address sustainability and social issues through capacity-building exercises, needs assessments, and innovative solutions. Over the course of just a few years, the project has grown from a small initiative to a dynamic partnership.
Looking Forward
In this next year the project is pivoting to explore more long-term strategies. Schmidt highlights that this year’s focus is on exploring policies that impact the community and developing a business model for the farmers. By working closely with the Chinampa farming communities, the researchers are assessing the feasibility of expanding these efforts into a sustainable, long-term economic model that could support farmers beyond basic infrastructure needs.
Additionally, the project will soon extend its reach to Canada, in collaboration with the . The Canadian aspect will focus on small-scale, indigenous farming in the country, investigating practices that could be applied to Mexico's Chinampa farming system. This international exchange of knowledge and best practices aims to amplify the project's impact and provide cross-border insights into sustainable farming techniques.
Social Impact and Policy Change
For Rivas, the initial excitement surrounding the project centered on the potential social impact. In this fourth year of work, he is now thrilled to see visible results and growth. "We were not expecting to see such results in such a short time," he admits, "but we're excited to grow this social impact and bring in more farmers. With the students bringing fresh ideas every year, the project continues to innovate."
For Schmidt, the focus is shifting toward understanding how policy can affect the project, especially in terms of environmental and urban development policies. She is particularly excited about exploring the intersection of the Chinampa system and governmental policies, and how these policies can either support or hinder its preservation. The possibility of leveraging policy changes to protect this ancient agricultural practice is a promising area of development.
One of the most exciting prospects for the team is achieving a United Nations designation for the Chinampa system. Schmidt explains that the Chinampa system, with its deep cultural and environmental significance, could qualify for a designation as a . This designation would offer additional protection against land development and environmental degradation while raising the profile of this unique agricultural practice globally.
Both Rivas and Schmidt agree that, though the project began as a small initiative, its long-term impact could be transformative—not just for the farmers and their communities, but also for the broader discourse around sustainable, indigenous farming practices and their role in global food security.
An Ongoing Commitment to Change
As the project enters its fourth year, there is a palpable sense of momentum. The collaboration between 鶹ӰԺ, the University of Panamericana, and now the University of Alberta reflects the growing international interest in preserving indigenous agricultural systems. The continued work with farmers in Mexico City, with the fourth trip just last month, along with the upcoming Canadian engagements, represents a significant step toward building a sustainable future for the communities that rely on these agricultural practices.
Through ongoing research, policy engagement, and the invaluable contribution of students, this project is not only preserving a centuries-old tradition but is also creating lasting social and environmental impact. It is an exemplary model of how academic partnerships can address real-world issues with creativity, innovation, and cultural preservation.
The Environmental Science and Design Research Institute Visiting Scholar Program
Salvador Rivas is excited to be ESDRI’s first Visiting Scholar! This new program offers academic visitors that are individuals from other universities, institutions, and businesses who
intend to have sustained interactions with 鶹ӰԺ State faculty, staff or students to do activities such as conducting collaborative research and creative activities with university personnel or participate in university programming. ESDRI Visiting Scholars are hosted by ESDRI, and are typically nominated by an ESDRI-affiliated KSU faculty member.
This program is intended to accelerate collaborative environmental science, sustainability, biodesign, and allied research and development at 鶹ӰԺ and within the Northeast Ohio Community, to provide infrastructure for building and maintaining collaborations between KSU faculty, community partners, and researchers from other institutions, to build local and global impact and increase the reach of KSU research and creative activities.
More information about the ESDRI Visiting Scholar Program can be found here: /esdri/visiting-scholar