Human Practices

Our purpose at Human Practices is to study the impact of our proposal in the real world, considering the social, cultural, environmental, and economic context, always in a respectful manner and attached to our values, ethics, and morals that represent us as a team. The main motivation is to be participants in a positive metamorphosis in society.

To assimilate these aspects we must approach the agents that make up the corn environment, understand their norms, codes of conduct, and cultural issues to establish a broad communication channel in which the parties can contribute to each other.

We consider that keeping an open mind to new postulates is essential for learning and feedback from the project, at the same time that we will achieve our participation with the dissemination of synthetic biology. This will help us promote, educate, and create trust in the product, so that it can be well received.

Problem in our local area

From our vision, as young Mexicans concerned about the social, environmental, and economic panorama, we began to interpret the events that caused us concern every day. An important factor that focused our attention on corn (a food that we have in our daily diet) was the significant increase in its price. Bearing in mind that there are various factors at a global level that can alter the cost of corn, it was worth approaching the producers of this grain, and knowing the context they were witnessing.

We recognized immediate interest in this topic, since we determined that corn is an important cereal in our culture, that it appears worldwide and that we are proudly willing to contribute efforts in order to benefit our society. The main corn producing states in Mexico are: Sinaloa, Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Veracruz, and Chiapas. Sinaloa alone contributes 23% of the total production in the country, followed by Jalisco, which participates with 14.4%. (Servicio de Información Agroalimentaria y Pesquera, 2020).

Cruz, a member of the team and son of José, a farmer from the municipality of Cosalá, Sinaloa, Mexico, told us about an alarming situation that many farmers face today. The main threat is centered on the fall armyworm, a pest that attacks corn fields and puts their livelihood at risk. However, Cruz's real concern lies in the use of conventional pesticides that are used to attack it. One afternoon, while his father was spraying his cornfield with these pesticides, he suffered a sudden dizziness that left him shaking.

A terrifying experience that made him reflect on the dangers of the chemicals he used to protect his crops. Cruz understood that these fainting spells were a consequence of his father's effort to take care of his harvest, but he wondered: what choice does he really have? The anguish of choosing between their health and the survival of their crops became an increasingly heavy burden.

Pesticides play an important role in the current agricultural model, since their application during the vegetative period of various crops in the world allows improving production by eliminating the pests and diseases that attack them.

However, today it is known that excessive use without measure has a high impact on the environment, generating risks for those who use them – the FAO and WHO estimate that more than four million people are likely to be poisoned each year due to their exposure to toxic pesticides – in addition to the health dangers they can cause to consumers. In recent decades, various methods have been developed that seek to reduce these negative effects and are in line with sustainable agriculture. (Government of Mexico, 2020).

Guiding our research towards a direct, measurable, and achievable purpose, we study the different pests present in the crops.

From the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Government of Mexico (2021), declared that among the foliage pests that most attack corn crops are: Fall armyworm, Corn earworm, Armyworm, and Red spider. And about the rhizophages (which attack the root): Blind hen, Wireworm, and Diabrotica.

We investigated these pests and, highly sensitive to the situation that Cruz shared with us, we decided to focus on first attacking the Fall Armyworm through a biopesticide that is friendly to the environment and human health. After reaching our goal, we will be able to channel other pests to develop a comprehensive and effective product.

For the aforementioned reasons, the project problem was selected.

Complexity of the Problem

No matter how much a public problem may seem to have few causes, in reality it is never simple. When trying to address it, one issue tends to generate another, and the fabric can continue to extend through space and even history in search of the true origin of a situation.

That is why it is crucial to define the problem in order to understand it and facilitate its intervention. In this way, we identify categories of various complexities, allowing us to recognize the immediate problem and its causes.

If the problem to be addressed is “X”, “U”, “V” and “W” must be understood, as they are its predecessors, in order to establish a double line of action:

  1. Containment of the existing problem, in a relatively present moment, to prevent it from evolving and growing.
  2. Prevention of the problem, addressing its causes to prevent it from recurring in the future.

Both principles can be supported when the present dynamics of the problem, its context, and its origins are known. Once all this is understood, intervention strategies can begin to be created.

Although this principle responds to the theory of public policy creation in Latin America, we as a team learned it empirically thanks to our Human Practices work for Design League 2021. We visited the Santiago River, guided by activists from Un Salto de Vida A.C., a non-profit civil association in Juanacatlán, Jalisco, which seeks solutions to the environmental problems present in that region due to pollution of the Río Santiago, a major water basin.

Our contact with the organization occurred at the beginning of the project, when we noticed they addressed social and environmental issues aligned with our values and objectives.

We approached them to understand the possible implications of a project with these characteristics. Thanks to this, we realized that environmental and human health problems have diverse causes, touching on economic and cultural aspects, where private initiative can be strongly involved, and public policies and regulations at the federal, state, and local levels have a direct impact on people's quality of life. Therefore, we investigated the problem more deeply.

Initially, our lab proposal was a bioreactor for detecting heavy metals. However, despite its potential, its impact was limited due to the economic and political conflicts behind the pollution. The bioreactor would have limited ability to prevent diseases given the social conditions, though it could serve as a tool for generating scientific evidence to aid in the processes organizations and groups were working on.

With this experience, we understood the importance of knowing and understanding a context before generating a proposal. And when facing a problem, it is important to consider the short and long term, the direct and indirect impact, and the complexity of the issue.

Stakeholder's Map

Before starting the field research, we stopped to analyze the actors involved in our project. This is essential in order to consider the sectors that can intervene directly or indirectly, as well as their level of influence. According to the analysis, we will know who it is wise to go to.

The tool that best suits our needs is a “Stakeholder Map”, as it conceptualizes four districts based on two variables: power and interest.

Group Description
Promoters More power, more interest. This group is key, they can be a great opportunity or a threat. We will seek to keep them involved and motivate positive participation.
Latents More power, little interest. Due to their level of power, they are valuable, and with their low purpose, we can predict their intentions. This sector must be kept satisfied.
Defenders Little power, more interest. Unlike the previous one, these are unpredictable but manageable once their affinities are known. You will have to keep them informed.
Apathic Little power, little interest. They are indifferent to the objective, you just have to monitor them.
Corn fields in Mexico

The following table breaks down why we assign that sector to each of these groups.

Stakeholder's map

Promoters

Latents

Defenders

Apathic

PEST Analysis

After analyzing each of the actors involved in the present, it is time to study the external factors that can impact us. The tool we select for this purpose is a “PEST Analysis,” since it considers political, economic, social, and technological conditions. With this, we will be clear about our environment and the possibility of how to behave in it.

PEST Analysis

Having made these issues visible, we can focus the research in a determined way to meet our objective. This is how we can create a strategic and comprehensive plan that incorporates these points. We do not rule out that new events may come our way, and we will provide treatment as they arise.

After this documentary research, we can begin the field research.

Preparation of the tool

To collect the model information, we opted for the interview tool. Not being experts in agriculture but already having a precedent of where to go, a field reconnaissance was carried out in the form of a semi-structured interview that allowed us to contextualize the situation and problems faced by Mexican farmers.

We developed a first questionnaire with a few open-ended questions that would help resolve our main questions. The intention was to listen to a farmer with extensive experience in this field, to learn his criteria, environment, and obstacles, and thus empower us to create a broader questionnaire with precise questions to obtain enriching answers.

Farmer's Experience

We made this first approach with Mr. José Luis Torres, civil engineer, who is part of the third family generation that professes this work. His entire life has been dedicated to growing corn, raising farm animals, among other activities.

He mentions that he has identified two main pests that affect the crop: the nixticuil and the fall armyworm. In the first case, it affects the root of the plant, weakening it and causing its death; in the second case, the worm lodges in the corncob, hindering the fertilization process and the subsequent growth of the ear or corn.

Regarding his experience with chemical fertilizers and/or pesticides, Mr. José Luis stated that he uses these substances, which are in liquid form, so that when mixed with water, they permeate the soil more easily, enhancing its effect. This is particularly important in the control of the fall armyworm, as during the rainy season, these pesticides can mix with rainwater, penetrate the soil, and attack the pest more effectively.

However, he is also aware that the use of these substances has side effects, such as damage to local flora. Still, he continues to use them because they are essential for maintaining productivity. He emphasized that it is crucial to follow the instructions correctly, use protective materials, and avoid direct contact with these substances.

The Importance of Prevention

Following the line of pest control, he mentioned that from his point of view, the most important thing is prevention, making it clear that correct planting and the timely use of fertilizers and pesticides are vital to achieving good results.

He also commented on some sociopolitical aspects linked to Mexican agriculture, affecting its outlook, such as the case of glyphosate, which was banned without the government providing effective alternatives. Added to this, support programs from the State are becoming less frequent, inputs for crop care have risen in price, and there is pressure to sell their land. As Mr. José Luis stated, “[...] Here, production in the countryside in most cases is for the love of art, for the love that people have for the land,” resulting in many of their colleagues having sold their lands.

This conversation reaffirmed several points that we had valued in our bibliographic research, and we learned many others that had not been considered. We believe that the objective of this talk was met because we had the clarity to investigate competently.

Developing the Questionnaire

Based on this, we developed a new questionnaire with 4 demographic, 8 contextual, and 22 project-specific questions. To meet our research needs, the questions are mostly open-ended, and a few others are the combination of pre-coding with “yes and no,” expecting a broad explanation of the reason for their response.

We believe that this is the best system to obtain the information we require, as we are in the investigation stage, so we hope that the interviewee expresses those aspects that we do not have in mind and that can undoubtedly add to the project.

Profile of the Interviewees

The profile of our interviewee must meet the following characteristics: indistinct sex, of legal age, indistinct nationality, must currently reside in Mexico, must have the job of growing corn, and practice it in Mexican territory. Most importantly, they must have witnessed fall armyworm in their fields on at least one occasion.

In recognition of the right to protection of the personal data of those interviewed, and in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Law on Protection of Personal Data Held by Private Parties, a Comprehensive Privacy Notice on the Use of Personal Data was created.

To consult the questionnaire, enter the following link:Questionnaire Link

To consult the privacy notice, enter the following link:Privacy Notice Link

Application of the Interview to Farmers

We chose the states of Jalisco and Sinaloa as a sample, since they generate the highest corn production nationwide. To achieve rapprochement, we went to close circles that could link us to people who meet the aforementioned profile and thus agree on a date.

We carry out the interviews according to the farmer's needs, adjusting to their times and conditions. This is how we arrange face-to-face meetings.

Once we arrive at the agreed location, we introduce ourselves to the interviewees, deliver the privacy notice where we explain the data we require for the purposes of this project. Next, we mention that the voice recording starts, as well as inform when it ends.

In this way, we carried out the interview. Part of the dynamic was that if the interviewee provided information that was outside the objective answer to the question asked but contributed to our study, the interviewer would ask follow-up questions to gather more information.

In question 27, “Do you know what Synthetic Biology is or have you heard of it?”, if the interviewee answered “no,” we gave a brief explanation to provide context and answer the rest of the questions.