Ecosystem Services in the Milpa System: A Systematic Review

The Milpa System is a millenary agroecosystem that has played a crucial role in Mesoamerican agriculture for over 9,000 years. This system provides essential ecosystem services such as food production, soil quality restoration and the transmission of ecological knowledge. The objective of this paper is to inventory the potential ecosystem services provided by the milpa system, based on a systematic review of the literature. The review was conducted using the PRISMA methodology, ensuring reproducible and structured research. Despite the milpa system has been vital for Mexican agriculture, there is a significant lack of research on its ecosystem services. Because of this, the review was broadened to involve other types of polyculture agroecosystems that include maize as an integral part of their composition, resulting in the review of 47 articles encompassing 38 ecosystem services. Among these, five Provisioning services were identified, with 32 of the articles mentioning food provision. Twenty Regulation and Maintenance services are mentioned in 24 articles, while Cultural services are the least studied, appearing in only 12 articles. Although there is not enough research done on the potential of the milpa system to provide with ecosystem services, it remains a cornerstone of Mexican agriculture and social identity. Preserving and promoting the milpa system is essential for enhancing agricultural resilience, ensuring food security and conserving biodiversity.