Resilience of the agri-food system of quesillo: tensions and benefits of its transformation

Food security and resilient agri-food systems are usually linked to large-scale production, advanced technology, and uniform supply chains. Yet, these methods often miss the important role of artisanal agri-food systems in daily food supply, supporting rural communities, and building resilience based on local roots. This article suggests that the strength of artisanal systems mainly comes from how territorial identity, governance, and market recognition work together. Using the case of the artisanal quesillo agri-food system in Oaxaca, Mexico, this article analyzes the main structural tensions shaping its transformation, including the tensions between artisanal practices and the modernization of food safety, environmental sustainability and economic profitability, production scale and institutional visibility, and the preservation of heritage and market competitiveness. Based on recent interdisciplinary literature and secondary evidence, the analysis shows that family production, intergenerational knowledge, and localized resource management are not residual traits, but rather key territorial assets for socioeconomic and institutional resilience. The article concludes that the resilience of artisanal agri-food systems is built upon their structural tensions, and that maximizing their benefits requires polycentric governance approaches that bring together local actors, institutions, and markets to translate territorial identity into economic and social value.