RCE Borderlands Mexico-USA - 2018

CURRENT PROJECT 10. “Agriculture and Evolution” Bio-intensive Organic Agriculture Demonstration Site in Bachíniva, Chihuahua México
Basic Information
Title of project : 
CURRENT PROJECT 10. “Agriculture and Evolution” Bio-intensive Organic Agriculture Demonstration Site in Bachíniva, Chihuahua México
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Borderlands México-USA
Contributing organization(s) : 
1) Agricultura y Evolucuión A.C.

2) Living Lab/Centro de Diálogo y Transformación Inc.
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Ing. Gaspar Mayagoitia Penagos
Organizational Affiliation: 
Agricultura y Evolución A.C.
E-mail: 
livinglablmayagoitia@gmail.com
Name: 
Prof. Dr. Carolina López C.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Living Lab/Centro de Diálogo y Transformación Inc.
E-mail: 
living.lab.cdt.inc@gmail.com
Format of project: 
Community Learning, Workshops, Courses, Publications, Policy Implications Studies
Language of project: 
Spanish
Date of submission:
Monday, October 22, 2018
Web link: 
https://www.facebook.com/Living-LabCentro-de-Di%C3%A1logo-y-Transformaci%C3%B3n-Borderlands-M%C3%A9xico-USA-1080731175368081/
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
Ley de Desarrollo Rural Sostenible
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Americas
Country: 
Mexico
Location(s): 
Bachíniva, Chihuahua México
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Agricultura y Evolución A.C.
Domicilio Conocido
Bachíniva, Chihuahua
31660 México
Ecosystem(s):
Agricultural, Forest, Fresh water, Grassland, Mountain
Target Audience:
Community, Primary, Secondary, Teacher Ed., Youth (Informal)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Bachíniva is one of the 67 municipalities of Chihuahua, in northern Mexico. The municipal seat lies in Bachíniva town. The municipality covers an area of 1,691.9 km².

The 2010 Census notes a total population in the municipality of 6,011, down from 7,242 in 2005.

As of 2010, Bachíniva town had a population of 2,109. The municipality has 13 smaller communities, with the largest being El Porvenir, which registered a population of 1071 individuals in 2010. The Bachíniva Municipality is classified as rural.

Founded in 1660 by the Order de San Francis of Assisi, the town was originally named Santa María de Nativitas de Bachimba; the name was later changed to the current Bachíniva.

Bachíniva is self-named the Apple Paradise, as it is home to many apple orchards. A large number of the jobs in the municipality come from these orchards (WP. Accessed 9-11-18).
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
° Water capture, conservation, purification and sustainable usage
° Soil restoration and sustainable usage
° Pesticide-free organic agriculture
° Food security
° Conserving harvests
° Selling products of the local harvest
° Rescuing native seed
° Exchanging and selling native seed
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
August, 1998 to December, 2038
Rationale: 
Hunger comes, in part, from people's dependency on commercial agriculture for which, at times, they have insufficient money to purchase the basic foodstuffs for survival. Agricultura y Evolución A.C. invites people to the demonstration site to see, to work the land, to harvest and to eat from what they call “nature's own supermarket”-- referring to what is grown and offered at the site.

When people experience the process of farming, of harvesting, and of eating from the land, they begin to envision the possibility of freeing themselves from dependency on commercial agricultural by using their own land for sustenance and independence.

At our courses and workshops, people are taught the basic of Biointensive Organic Agriculture, along with other accompanying knowledge sets, i.e. about water, soils, natural pesticides, drip irrigation, canning and other forms of conserving the fruits of their harvests for sale or for later use.

Agricultura y Evolución A.C. hopes to 'train and certify the trainers' so that people can return to their communities, or to other regions of the country, in order to share their newfound knowledge with others as México seeks to re-develop and restore its rural heartland, ensuring that there is enough for all.
Objectives: 
° Train individuals and communities in Biointensive Organic Agriculture and other Eco-techniques designed for achieving food security
° Certify producers and other interested parties in Biointensive Organic Agriculture Techniques, enabling them to teach, to share and to spread this knowledge in Chihuahua State and throughout the country
° Create a Native Seed Bank for conservation, exchange and sale of non-GMO seed
° Rehabilitate, expand and maintain the Bachíniva Demonstration Site
Activities and/or practices employed: 
° Teaching
° Dialogue
° Hands-on learning
° Courses
° Workshops
° Harvest, conservation and sale of crops grown on the site
Size of academic audience: 
2,000 people
Results: 
° People envision themselves as independent small farmers, helping to ensure their family's food security
° People conserve and sell produce beyond what is needed to feed their families
° People learn about Biointensive Organic Agriculture and accompanying knowledge and techniques
° Youth find opportunities to remain in Bachíniva as their ability to be independent farmers is increased
° Individual and community pride and rootedness grow as people understand themselves as successful small farmers
° Involvement in licit economic activities increases
Lessons learned: 
° People can break out of poverty and dependency
° Food security increases people's wellbeing and their self-esteem
° It provides incentives and opportunities for youth to remain in the community and to be involved in licit economic activities
° Soils can be fully restored and sustainably used for the enjoyment of future generations
° Well-managed water resources can be clean, healthy and sufficient for all members of the community° Involvement in licit economic activities increases









Key messages: 
Healthy soils, native seeds, clean & sufficient water and food security are available to all who care to learn the methods on offer at the Agricultura y Evolución A.C. Demonstration Site in Bachíniva, Chihuahua.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
This project is closely related to the Plan México, Zero Hunger Demonstration Site and Learning Centre in Santa Isabel, Chihuahua.

It forms a part of RCE BMU's Sustainability Corridor, thereby linking it to eight other projects and communities along the corridor.
Funding: 
° The project is self-funded by Agricultura y Evolución A.C.
° Recovery fees may be charged for courses and workshops offered at the site
° Money is earned by selling the excess harvest from the site
° Living Lab/CDT-RCE BMU will be seeking funding to help strengthen and further develop the project

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon Irene. Maíz. 12-12-18.jpg (428.6 KB) A Princess showing native seed produced at the Demonstration Site. Ing. Gaspar Mayagoitia Penagos
Image icon EEUU. Calabaza. 7-10-18.jpeg (170.94 KB) Agricultura y Evolución A.C. Founder Ing. Gaspar Mayagoitia after the squash harvest. Living Lab/Centro de Diálogo y Transformación Inc.
Image icon EEUU-Bachíniva 1. 7-10-18.jpeg (170.13 KB) Distinguished visitors from Las Cruces, New México USA. Carolina López C.
References and reference materials: 
File Bachíniva. AyE. 15-10-18.pptx
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Direct
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Direct
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Direct
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Indirect
SDG 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 
Indirect
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Direct
SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 
Indirect
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Indirect
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Indirect
SDG 10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries 
Direct
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Indirect
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Direct
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Direct
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Indirect
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 
Indirect
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Indirect
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Indirect
Traditional Knowledge  
Direct
Agriculture 
Direct
Arts 
Indirect
Curriculum Development 
Direct
Ecotourism 
Direct
Forests/Trees 
Indirect
Plants & Animals 
Direct
Waste 
Indirect
Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development – Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
Direct
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Building capacities of educators and trainers 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Empowering and mobilizing youth 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
Direct
Update: 
No