Mexico City faces a "complete loss of water."

North America's largest city is on the cusp of total water loss.

AuthorAuthor

Lena Beck & Modern Farmer
June 16, 2024

Hello. Lena here, staff writer at Modern Farmer.

In the last few weeks, I’ve seen a lot of deeply upsetting headlines about the water crisis in Mexico, particularly in Mexico City, the largest city in North America. Contributor Lauren Rothman, who lives in Mexico, wrote about the impending crisis for Modern Farmer this week. 

Lauren deftly writes about her experience with Mexico’s water loss, and interviews experts to explain how the situation got to be this way. This is a frightening topic, and I’m grateful to her for breaking down the issue in a helpful way. (As a side note: Lauren wrote this story in both English and Spanish. This is the first time we’ve run a Spanish-language story, and we are excited to do more in the future!)

If, after diving into the country’s water woes, you need a story from Mexico that inspiring, I recommend reading this profile of a 97-year old matriarch still teaching her family the traditional ways of harvesting salt by hand.

A tanker truck delivering water to a Mexican town.

A "pipa" truck delivering potable water. Photo: Lauren Rothman

Also fresh this week

A farmworker stoops over in a field.

Photo: F Armstrong

The Fair Food Program provides a solution.

Pecans being processed in machinery

Pecan production. Photo: Chase Pecan

Pecans, although not as widely grown as other nuts, make a delicious milk alternative. One farmer wants the world to try them.

While I still have you: Last week, we featured a story about ranchers and conservationists working together. Many of you responded with your own great examples of similar collaborations!

  • Reader Kevin Ellis wrote in to recommend the Agritech Institute for Small Farms in Vermont, which helps small farmers use technology to increase their financial security while also adapting for the climate.

  • A reader and eighth-generation Indiana farmer wrote in with his story of trying to find worms for fishing and coming up empty, and how that inspired a journey to rehabilitate the soil on his family farm. Starting in 2020, they transitioned to being a no-till, cover crop farm. He shared:

“I saw regenerative farming as the only way my kids could be part of our farming operation. Now, they too can discuss the biological approach in protecting natural resources and improving habitat across the farm. They hear me talk about the human role in the total ecosystem as key to sustaining the farm through future generations.”

Thank you so much to everyone who wrote in! We love hearing from you. As always, my line is open.

Community Action Corner

In the course of our reporting, we come across great resources, insights, and pieces of actionable advice from our community. Each week we are featuring an action you can take to boost your knowledge and support a more equitable and resilient food system.

Hungry for more? Check out the Modern Farmer Solutions Hub for more actionable advice from experts. 

Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you next week!

~ LB