EVALUATION OF SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS OF THE SUGARCANE AGROECOSYSTEM IN SIHOCHAC, CHAMPOTÓN, CAMPECHE, MEXICO

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Currently, agroecosystems (AES) face problems related to climate change, soil erosion, environmental pollution, and resource degradation that directly impact sustainability. <strong>Objective: </strong>To understand the degree of sustainability of the sugarcane agroecosystem of the community of Sihochac, Champotón, Campeche, Mexico, through the analysis and evaluation of economic, environmental and sociocultural indicators. <strong>Methodology: </strong>The MESMIS method was used to define the indicators corresponding to each dimension. The information from each was gathered based on a sample of 70 farmers, calculated through the finite population formula; a questionnaire with closed questions was applied and answers with a scale of 0 to 4. <strong>Results: </strong>The sociocultural indicators obtained the highest value with 2.32, followed by the economic with 2.14, and lastly, the environmental with 0.57. The General Sustainability Index (GSI) obtained was 1.68, which indicates that the sugarcane agroecosystem is not sustainable. <strong>Implications: </strong>The sugarcane farmers manage their agroecosystems with various conventional methods, so they require using more sustainable practices to reduce the environmental impact on this crop. <strong>Conclusions: </strong>Because the sugarcane AES is not sustainable, it is necessary to implement conservation measures, for example, using varieties that are more resistant to pests and diseases which require less synthetic chemical products and promoting the use of organic fertilizers, as well as fostering social relationships and fairer and more solidary support both for farmers and for representatives of sugarcane-growing groups.</p>