Coffee farming in Mexico is an activity of great economic, social, cultural, and environmental importance. One of the strategies for obtaining better prices is so-called "specialty coffees", whose quality is evaluated through the "cup of excellence" contest. The aim of this work was to identify if there are factors related to the quality of coffee, based on the data provided by this contest. Information was obtained for the period 2012 to 2019 (since the event was suspended in 2020), but given the heterogeneity in the data, exclusion, and inclusion criteria were applied, examining only the years 2017 to 2019. Descriptive analyses show that, in Mexico, the coffee producing states of Veracruz and Chiapas predominate the highest scores, possibly because they are regions with the highest presence of biodiversity, which favors the quality of the coffee. A simple linear regression model also noted that quantitative variables (altitude, temperature, and precipitation) do not affect cup quality. Finally, a square chi analysis showed that the factors that affect the score are the process and mixing of varieties, which establish differences in the sensory characteristics of coffee, observing dependence between the two. It is concluded that the latter influence the score, where the washing process is best suited for coffees with an extraordinary quality profile, as well as the use of one or three varieties (particularly Arabica type) and that environmental and site components do not have a decisive effect on coffee cup quality.

Importancia de la domesticación en la conservación de los hongos silvestres comestibles en MéxicoThe importance of domestication in the conservation of edible wild fungi in Mexico SUMMARYIn Latin America, including Mexico, the tremendous degradation of forests has drastically altered the ecological, social and cultural contexts associated with them. Edible wild fungi form part of the eating and subsistence strategy of the local inhabitants and of the biocultural richness. This resource is currently at risk owing to the growing demand for its gastronomic and nutraceutical properties, and because of the lack of knowledge for its sustainable use. All of this increases the probability of overexploiting or driving some species extinct, especially the most traditionally used and well-known ones. Because of this, it is necessary to develop an understanding of the role of edible wild fungi in agroecosystems, and to develop technologies that allow them to be produced under domestication. This review examines the theoretical and conceptual background of the challenges of managing fungi and the implications of their domestication; emphasizing the need to take into account ethnomycological knowledge and use an interdisciplinary approach that favors a balance between conservation and development. The proper management of this resource could contribute to local economies and even become a driver of social transformation for rural and indigenous communities in the forests of Mexico.Key words: agroecosystems, forest ecosystems, traditional knowledge, ethnomycology. RESUMENEn Latinoamérica, incluido México, existe una gran degradación de los bosques y selvas que ha alterado drásticamente al entorno ecológico, social y cultural asociado a ellos. Los hongos silvestres comestibles forman parte de esta riqueza biocultural y se encuentran actualmente amenazados por el desconocimiento de pautas de aprovechamiento sostenible y la creciente demanda por sus propiedades gastronómicas y nutracéuticas. Esto aumenta la probabilidad de sobreexplotación o extinción de distintas especies, especialmente de aquellas tradicionales y más conocidas. Por lo anterior, es necesario entender el papel de los hongos silvestres comestibles dentro de los agroecosistemas, así como desarrollar tecnologías que permitan su domesticación y producción. En la presente revisión se analizan antecedentes teóricos y conceptuales relacionados con los retos en el manejo del recurso fúngico y las implicancias de su domesticación, señalando la necesidad de considerar el conocimiento etnomicológico y un enfoque interdisciplinario que favorezca el equilibrio entre conservación y desarrollo. El manejo adecuado de este recurso podría contribuir a las economías locales y ser un factor de transformación social para las comunidades rurales e indígenas de los bosques en México.

La recolección y venta de hongos silvestres comestibles, junto con la de otros productos forestales no maderables, constituyen una estrategia alimentaria y de subsistencia para los productores rurales. A pesar de la importancia social, económica, ecológica y cultural, dichas actividades todavía son de las más aisladas y poco conocidas del sector primario nacional. Esto trae como consecuencia la ausencia de políticas, esquemas de apoyo y estrategias de desarrollo para tales actividades. Por lo anterior, el objetivo de este trabajo fue exponer la necesidad de generar estadísticas oficiales en la recolección de hongos y establecer la relación entre la investigación científica, políticas públicas y el marco legal vigente, con el fin de conocer el estado actual de esta actividad y sus perspectivas a futuro. Se observa que el desconocimiento de la recolección de hongos ocasiona que no se le considere y excluya de las políticas de desarrollo del gobierno y de los sectores social y privado. De la misma manera, la falta de información, gestión y vinculación causa el rezago de la recolección y, con ello, su eventual sustitución o reemplazo por otras actividades. Sin embargo, existen ciertas potencialidades que debidamente manejadas pueden representar una alternativa real en el manejo sustentable de los bosques de México.

Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a damaging agricultural pest. Currently, the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is used as part of its control. The SIT consists of the mass-rearing, sterilization, and release of insects in target areas. Sterile males mate with wild females, and prevent them from laying fertile eggs. However, even if females mate with sterile males, they can then remate with a second male. If this second male is wild, then this could reduce the efficiency of the SIT by producing viable offspring. The amount of progeny produced by second males (P2 values) for A. ludens is unknown. Here, we evaluated the biological attributes, mating competitiveness, and the proportion of male paternity gained by the second male, using strains that carry fluorescent marker genes and can be potentially used to develop transgenic sexing strains. Furthermore, the transgenic strains were irradiated, to test their ability to induce sterility in females. We found that the 443-G strain had significantly higher larval survival than the 419-R strain. No significant difference was found between the two strains in their mating probability with wild females. We found P2 values between 67 and 74% for the 419-R and the 443-G strain, respectively. Second male sperm precedence only decreased slightly after 12 days, suggesting that sperm from the first and second male is not mixing with time, but rather the second male’s sperm prevails. Furthermore, sterile 443-G males induced significantly higher sterility in females than sterile males from the 419-R strain. The apparent lower ability of the 443-G strain to inhibit female remating should be further investigated. Knowledge of the pre and postcopulatory performance of transgenic strains will help in understanding their potential for control.

Aquaculture is the fastest growing animal food production sector worldwide and is becoming the main source of aquatic animal foodstuff for human consumption. However, the aquaculture sector has been strongly criticized for its environmental impacts. It can cause discharge and accumulation of residual nutrients in the areas surrounding the production farms. This is because, of the total nutrients supplied to production ponds, only 30% are converted into product, while the rest is usually discharged into the environment to maintain water quality in aquaculture culture systems, thereby altering the physic-chemical characteristics of the receiving water. In contrast, this same accumulation of nutrients is gaining importance within the agricultural sector, as it has been reported that the main nutrients required by plants for their development are found in this aquaculture waste. The purpose of this review article is to indicate the different aquaculture production systems, the waste they generate, as well as the negative effects of their discharge into the environment. Biofiltration and bioremediation processes are mentioned as alternatives for aquaculture waste management. Furthermore, the state of the art in the treatment and utilization of aquaculture waste as a mineral source for agricultural nutrition through biodigestion and biomineralization processes is described. Finally, aquaponics is referred to as a biological production approach that, through efficient use of water and recycling of accumulated organic nutrients in aquaculture systems, can contribute to addressing the goals of sustainable aquaculture development.