Reframing Native Maize Conservation, the Energy-Gender Nexus, and Food Sovereignty in Rural Mexico

The role of traditional Indigenous agriculture in preserving native maize in Mexico has been widely researched, as well as its cultural and environmental benefits. Nevertheless, the extensive and interdisciplinary literature on landrace maize production has paid less attention to the role of women’s knowledge in transforming maize into handmade tortillas, work that contributes directly to the conservation of maize agrobiodiversity, food culture, and identity. In rural Mexico, maize provides the basis of local food systems, and the transformation of this grain into handmade tortillas is intricately related to fuelwood use as the primary source of cooking energy. The notion of food sovereignty in rural Mexico must consider energetic needs and address the health and environmental implications of women’s work in maize processing. This review examines the intersection of energy use and women’s role in native maize processing activities and conservation. We explore fuelwood use in handmade tortilla making and draw a parallel between the conservation of landrace maize agro-food systems and energetic justice. Drawing on the experiences of Indigenous women dedicated to making and selling tortillas in Purepecha, Zapotec, and Mixtec communities, we illustrate their role as key articulators of native maize conservation while discussing the environmental and health implications of this livelihood. Ultimately, we argue for the need to seriously consider the tensions between native maize conservation and energy justice as essential for constructing sustainable and sovereign livelihoods in Mexico’s rural communities. Please refer to Supplementary Materials for a full text Spanish version of this article.