Geographic contributions in in-situ conservation: The landscape of maize (Zea mays L.) in the Bajio of Mexico

Research on maize in the Bajio of Mexico has indicated that landraces are just as likely to be replaced by urban and industrial development than modern varieties. However, this pattern is not even and replacement is more typical in areas of high agricultural potential. Gender is important to understanding agricultural practices in the Bajio, particularly as males more frequently leave the communities to work for extended periods of time. Finally, seed exchange systems in four villages in the Bajio are complex and not easily defined, although, the areas of high agricultural potential are likely to have less seed exchange as farmers there depend more on acquiring seed from agricultural suppliers. Seed exchange does not appear to be limited to similar agricultural production areas. Suggestions for future research include investigations into the potential for re-introducing landraces of maize into areas of reduced water availability for irrigation and continued research on the relationship between agrobiodiversity and cultural diversity. The discipline of Geography, in particular, Agricultural Geography, provides an excellent theoretical and methodological foundation to explore issues of in-situ conservation and agricultural restoration.