Rudolph C. Rÿser, Ph.D.
Volume 10, Number 2 (2011) 10 (2): 167-180
Keywords Food Security, Civil Society Organizations, Non-profit Organizations, Globalization, Climate Change, Indigenous Peoples, Social Justice, Agricultural Systems, Small Farmers, Subsistence Farming, Role of Non-profit Organizations in Mexico, Small Farmers' Resilience to Climate Change, Globalization of Food Systems, Indigenous Agricultural Practices
Abstract
Mexico's civil society organizations (CSOs) bridge critical gaps in food security by advancing social change where government and business fall short. This analysis examines their historical evolution and current challenges, emphasizing the need for stronger legal/financial support to bolster climate resilience efforts—particularly for small farmers facing climate threats. Parallelly, Mexico's ancient food system, which sustainably nourished populations for two millennia, is now endangered by modern policies. Preserving this heritage requires supporting subsistence farmers to maintain agricultural biodiversity and stability. Together, these perspectives highlight how globalization impacts both non-profit operations and traditional foodways, advocating for: 1) empowered CSOs to address climate-food crises, 2) policy shifts protecting smallholder agriculture, and 3) integration of historical food wisdom into contemporary security frameworks.
Rudolph C. Rÿser, Ph.D.
Published January 1, 2011
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rudolph C. Rÿser, Ph.D. (Author)
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