María Eugenia Vázquez-Sánchez

A Mexican environmental scientist who pioneered sustainable agriculture practices in arid regions, contributing to food security and ecological preservation in the mid-20th century.

María Eugenia Vázquez-Sánchez (1925–2008) was a Mexican botanist and environmental scientist who transformed agriculture in arid regions. Born in Chihuahua, she studied plant physiology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), focusing on drought-resistant crops. In the 1950s, Mexico’s northern states faced severe desertification, threatening food security. Vázquez-Sánchez led a team at UNAM’s Institute of Ecology to develop high-yield varieties of maize and beans adapted to low rainfall. Her research, published in Agricultural Water Management, demonstrated how these crops could thrive with 30% less water than traditional strains.

Her most significant contribution was the Agroecology Project for Arid Zones (1960–1975), which integrated crop rotation, soil conservation, and rainwater harvesting. This project increased crop yields by 40% in regions like Sonora and Baja California. She also introduced nitrogen-fixing shrubs to prevent soil erosion, a technique later adopted by farmers in Chile and Argentina. Vázquez-Sánchez’s methods were featured in the UN’s 1977 report "Drylands: A Global Challenge".

Despite her technical expertise, she prioritized community involvement. She trained over 2,000 farmers in sustainable practices through workshops in rural towns. Her book 《Living with the Desert》 became a manual for arid-zone agriculture. Though less celebrated than her male peers, her work is credited with preventing famine in northern Mexico during the 1980s drought. A 2020 documentary, "Seeds of Resilience," highlights her legacy. Today, her techniques are taught in agroecology programs worldwide.