1 June 2000
Sponsors
Institute of Advanced
     Studies, UN Univ., Japan
AEON Foundation, Japan
Internet Conference on 
Material Flow Analysis of 
Integrated Bio-Systems
(March-October 2000)
 Organized by: 
Integrated Bio-Systems Network
UNU/IAS Alumni Association, UN Univ.,Tokyo
with the assistance of :
MFA Conference Planning Group
UNESCO Microbial Resources Centre, Stockholm

Recycling of solid wastes in the east of Mexico City
by livestock and agricultural production systems

H.Losada, R.Bennett1, J.Vieyra, R.Soriano, J.Cortes and S.Billling1

Animal Production Systems Area. Department of Biology of Reproduction. Division of Biological and Health Sciences, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa. Av. Michoacán y la Purisíma. Col. Vicentina. Iztapalpa. México D.F.

1Researchers from U.K. sponsored by the interchange CONACYT-British Council.

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Keywords:
market wastes, dairy cattle, manure, crop production, peri-urban, Opuntia

Abstract
The Central Food depot of Mexico City (Central de Abastos) is the largest market in the world, receiving 24,000 tons of food products daily, some 40% of the Mexican national harvest. It generates 800 tons of waste per day, mostly organic, of which 100 tons are used as a forage source to feed the 2500 dairy cattle maintained in urban stables in the east of Mexico City, constituting an significant flow of otherwise waste material. A wide range of products are used as feed for the cows, including parts or whole of the following: broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, carrot, corn, pumpkin, cabbage, turnip, radish and sugar beet. In turn, excrement from the dairy stables is removed weekly and used entirely for crop production in peri-urban areas. The most significant crop by far is the nopal (Opuntia ficus indica) grown on terraced fields in Milpa Alta, in the south-east of the city with an annual production of over 200,000 tons of leaves. Some 75% of these are consumed within Mexico City, the rest in neighbouring states (Puebla, Hidalgo, Mexico, Queretaro, etc), and a small proportion exported to USA and Japan. Dairy manure is applied for organic matter and nutrients as well as a source of moisture and heat counteracting the effects on both the lack of water or frosts on the plant. Up to 600 tons of fresh manure may be applied per hectare, and the crop produces leaves weekly, all the year round. 

Nutrient flow between vegetable production, Central de Abastos, dairy stables and nopal fields (figures in kg/ton dry matter unless specified)
 

- Organic 
Matter		 Nitrogen Phosphorous Potassium
* Input per ton of vegetable -  82.9  48.7  17.45
* Content of vegetables -  31.1  5.0  35.0
* Content of market waste plant parts -  19.1  4.6   45.5
Content of dairy manure Kg/ton fresh weight  850  5.1  0.7  1.2
** Input to nopal fields Kg/ha/yr  340,000  2152  312  515
*based on mean input and content of the six principle crops used in urban dairy cattle feed
         **based on manure application rate of 400 tons/ha/yr
The close relation that exists between the system of milk production of the internal basin and the existing agricultural systems in sub and peri-urban spaces, constitutes a model of production, developed by the producers themselves, contributing to the sustainability of large urban centres. 

CHAIRPERSONS
(1) Manfred Fehr Total Environment Foundation, Brazil
(2) Horst Doelle MIRCEN-Brisbane and International Organization for Biotechnology and Bioengineering. Australia,

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Universida Autonoma Metropolitana Iztapalapa
Area de Investigacion en Sistemas de Produccion Animal
Av. Michoacan y La Purisima S/N
Colonia Vicentina
Ciudad de Mexico. 09340		 Animal Production Systems Area, 
Department of Biology of Reproduction
Division of Biological and Health Sciences, 
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa. 
Av. Michoacán y la Purisíma. 
Col. Vicentina. Iztapalpa. 
C.P. 09340. México D.F. 
Dr. H. (Tito) Losada. E-mail: hrlc@xanum.uam.mx 
First degree in Veterinary Medicine at UNAM. Master degree in Agric. Sci. At ICA from the University of Havana under the supervision of T.R. Preston Dan M.B. Willis. Large experience in animal nutrition in the humid tropics of Mexico.  PhD at the GRI, from Reading University, U.K under the supervision of D.E. Beaver. Experience in urban agriculture in Mexico City. 
 
 		 Richard Bennett
M.Sc. in Rural Resources and Environmental Policy from Wye College, University of London. Two years stay in Mexico City working with different topics of urban agriculture supported by the exchange program Mexico-UK. 
Dr. Ramon Soriano Robles. Profesor-Investigador
Tel: 5 723 6491     Fax: 5 724 4930. e-mail: ramon@xanum.uam.mx
First degree Animal Production at the Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM) PhD on sustainable agriculture at Wye College, University of London, under the supervision of D. Leaver and G. Woodgate. Research experience on different topics of urban agriculture including sustainable analysis of regional productive models. 		 Dr. José Cortés
First degree veterinary medicine at UNAM. MsC in animal reproduction at UAM supervised by S. Fernández-Baca, a FAO advisor. Doctorate in Animal Production at UNAM under the supervision of L. Zarco. Research experience in urban agriculture. 
Jorge Vieyra
Biology graduated at UAM campus Iztapalapa. At the moment Doctorate student on the use of animals in urban agriculture under the supervision of H. Losada, J. Cortés and C. Arriaga.		 Simon Billing
First degree Development Studies of the University of East Anglia, UK. At the moment working as a researcher supported by the exchange program Mexico-UK.