Caracterización de sistemas de producción familiar de maíz azul y berries en la Sierra Nevada de Puebla, México

Background: In the Sierra Nevada de Puebla, Mexico, indigenous farmers have developed resilient family farming systems with local, healthy, and specialty crops that operate under adverse conditions yet maintain biocultural, socioeconomic, and ecological relevance as expressions of Localized Agri-Food Systems (LAFS). Objective: To characterize blue corn and berry production systems in three locations using the LAFS theoretical framework, identifying farmer profiles, production practices, and collaborations to generate knowledge that strengthens public policies aimed at food sovereignty and territorial development. Methodology: A survey and simple random sampling technique were used to administer questionnaires to 221 farmers in San Mateo Ozolco, San Miguel Tianguizolco, and San Diego Buenavista in 2023-2024. Sociodemographic, technical-productive, environmental, cultural, and commercial variables were analyzed using ANOVA, Tukey's test, and Spearman's correlations to identify differences and relationships among them. Results: The blue corn and berry production systems were characterized. They present limitations in financing, technical assistance, and organization; however, they exhibit territorial multifunctionality (bioculturality, social inclusion, local economy, environmental conservation, and food security), determined by sociodemographic factors (gender, age, education, native language), organizational factors (community cohesion, financing), and labor factors (type and labor force), that also influence the productivity and resilience of the systems. Implications: The invisibility of these systems limits progress toward a fair, resilient, and socially inclusive agri-food model. Conclusions: These systems constitute differentiated SIALs that require strengthening through territorialized public policies and the articulation of local knowledge with theoretical frameworks that guarantee their sustainability and resilience.