Historical evolution and current variants of the Yucatecan <i>milpa</i> system: a literature review

This study presents a historical descriptive review of the Yucatecan milpa system, a traditional agroecological agricultural practice with deep cultural and environmental significance. Through an extensive desk review of 101 publications, we examine the evolution of management practices, changes in agrobiodiversity, and shifts in socioecological contexts across five key historical periods: pre-Hispanic (5600 BC–1540 AD), Colonial (1540–1810), Independent Mexico (1810–1940), Green Revolution (1940–present), and the Agroecological Period (1970–present). The analysis shows that the traditional milpa has diversified into seven distinct variants: traditional, traditional with short forest regeneration periods, slash-and-mulch, improved forest regeneration period, continuous, associated with perennials, and mechanized milpas. These variants have emerged in response to historical events, farmers’ preferences, market demands, changes in environmental conditions, and institutional interventions. Notably, these seven milpa approaches are not uniformly distributed across Yucatán; their prevalence is influenced by local ecological, economic, and cultural factors, and may vary not only between regions and communities but also among individual producers, reflecting the state’s marked socioecological heterogeneity. The review identifies historical patterns of change in agrobiodiversity, land management, and technology adoption that have influenced the sustainability of the milpa system. It also highlights both the resilience of this agroecosystem and the increasing pressures from agricultural intensification and policy shifts that threaten its environmental, social, and economic sustainability.