Evaluación de la sustentabilidad en agroecosistema en el cantón Puerto Quito, provincia Pichincha, Ecuador año 2023. Estudio de caso Asociación Agropecuaria Artesanal Nueva Esperanza (ASOANE)

Abstract

The research was carried out in the Puerto Quito Canton, northwest of Pichincha, at the Nueva Esperanza Artisanal Agricultural Association (ASOANE), where the distribution, products, and management of the associated farms were analyzed. The study was conducted using the MESMIS methodology, which focuses on obtaining quantitative data regarding the evaluation of indicators to assess the level of sustainability of agroecosystems, as well as qualitative data considering the social, economic, and ecological relationship of the production systems. Three dimensions were evaluated: social, ecological, and economic. Each dimension has a score within the Participatory Guarantee Systems (SPGs) form, ranging from 0 to 10 for the social and economic aspect, and from 0 to 60 for the ecological aspect. For the application of the methodology, each dimension was weighted on a scale from 0 to 1, where low values represent a very critical situation and high values represent a good and/or highly sustainable situation. Once the results were obtained, a descriptive analysis of the data and a comparative analysis between the three specified groups in the research were conducted. As a result, a map of the association's farms was developed, along with a proposal for improvement for farms that have a medium or low level of sustainability, indicating the areas that need reinforcement. In conclusion, it was found that the majority of association members maintain a sustainable agroecosystem with an ISG value of 0.75. Additionally, the successful implementation of sustainability principles helped ensure the good nutrition of farmers and consumers, without neglecting the care of the natural environment.