Birol, E.; Villalba, E.; Smale, M.; (2007) Farmer preferences for milpa diversity and genetically modified maize in Mexico: a latent class approach. Presented at: 9th Annual BIOECON Conference on the Economic Analysis of Ecology and Biodiversity, Kings College, Cambridge, UK.

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Abstract

Mexico is the centre of origin of maize. Maize is Typically grown as part of a set of associated crops and practices called the milpa system, an ancient mode of production that is practiced today in ways that vary by cultural context and agro-environment. We use a choice experiment to estimate the farmers’ valuation of three components of agrobiodiversity: crop species richness, maize variety richness and maize landraces. We include the option to cultivate genetically modified (GM) maize. Data were collected from 420 farm households across three states of Mexico. We analyze the heterogeneity of farmer preferences with a latent class model, which enables us to identify the characteristics of farmers who are most Likely to continue growing maize landraces, as well as those least likely to accept GM maize. Findings have implications for debates concerning the use of GM maize in Mexico and the design of on-farm conservation programmes.

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