FAO recognizes new sites in Mexico and Brazil as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

A traditional agroforestry system for cultivating yerba mate in Brazil and an ancestral farming system that preserves vital food crops and biodiversity in Mexico have become the latest additions to the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Latin America and the Caribbean.

GIAHS are living heritage systems inhabited by communities that maintain a deep connection with their territories. These evolving and resilient systems are characterized by remarkable agrobiodiversity, traditional knowledge, cultures, and invaluable landscapes sustainably managed by farmers, herders, fishers, and forest dwellers to support their livelihoods and food security.

“Agricultural heritage systems are living examples of harmony between people and nature. They have thrived and evolved over generations and have much to teach us as we adapt to an uncertain future,” said Kaveh Zahedi, Director of FAO’s Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment.

These systems were formally designated—along with three other sites in China and one in Spain—under FAO’s flagship program during the GIAHS Scientific Advisory Group meeting held from May 19 to 21. With these new designations, the FAO’s GIAHS network now comprises 95 systems in 28 countries worldwide. In Latin America and the Caribbean, Mexico now has three recognized sites, Brazil and Ecuador have two each, and Chile and Peru each have one.

“In the face of increasing climate variability and extreme weather events affecting agriculture and farmers, along with biodiversity loss, these systems stand out as bright spots showing how communities can draw on ancestral knowledge and practices to bring food to the table, protect jobs and livelihoods, and preserve unique and sustainable agricultural landscapes,” added Zahedi.

Shaded Yerba Mate Cultivation in Paraná (Brazil)

For centuries, Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities in southern Brazil have cultivated yerba mate under shaded agroforestry systems rooted in ancestral and agroecological practices. The leaves of native tree species are traditionally consumed as chimarrão, tereré, or mate in other countries such as Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

By integrating food crops, native fruits, and forest products, the system strengthens biodiversity, food sovereignty, and cultural identity, while helping to conserve the Araucaria Forest, one of the most threatened biodiversity hotspots on the planet and a vital reservoir of life.

In a region heavily impacted by deforestation, where only 1% of the original forest cover remains, this system is a rare example of agricultural practices that preserve forest cover while supporting livelihoods and cultural heritage.

The Ancestral Metepantle Agricultural System of Tlaxcala (Mexico)

In the mountainous and semi-arid regions of Tlaxcala state, farming families have sustained the metepantle system for over three millennia. This consists of terraced mosaics of maize, agave, beans, squash, and wild plants. Rooted in the knowledge of the Indigenous Nahua peoples, the system conserves seeds, maintains dryland biodiversity, and strengthens local food systems and livelihoods, providing resilience and cultural continuity in one of Mexico’s most climate-vulnerable regions.

The system maintains over 140 native species, including 40 original maize varieties and 30 types of edible vegetables, and promotes community-based conservation through family traditions, seed fairs, and exchange networks. It provides fiber, food, beverages, soil stabilization, and pollinator habitats.

Latin America’s Experience with Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

Launched in 2002, FAO’s GIAHS program supports communities in preserving traditional agricultural systems, territories, agricultural biodiversity, knowledge systems, and the associated cultures. With nine sites across five Latin American countries, the program drives public policy, generates sustainable income for communities, and strengthens their management capacities.

To foster learning through the exchange of experiences, lessons, and recommendations emerging throughout the GIAHS designation process, FAO’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean organized the webinar “Lessons that Transform: Dialogues and Experiences on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems in Latin America.”

The event highlighted how GIAHS contributes to food security, agrobiodiversity, and the sustainability of rural livelihoods, serving as a key tool to address sustainable development challenges.

Pearl Mussels, White Tea, Pears in China, and Volcanic Agriculture in Spain

Three other sites in China—dedicated to the production of pearl mussels, white tea, and pears—were also recognized by FAO as GIAHS. Meanwhile, in Spain, FAO designated a unique agricultural production system set in the volcanic landscape of Lanzarote Island as a new GIAHS site.

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