Agroecology-based farming provides grounds for more resilient livelihoods among smallholders in Western Guatemala

A set of sustainability attributes was estimated in Western Guatemala by characterizing 20 small-scale farming families with the aim of exploring food security- and climate resilience-related conditions. Solidarity-based economies spawn a stronger social network among agroecological farms. Gender roles in agroecology-adopting families seem to be moving to a more balanced scenario. Differences between agroecology-based and semi-conventional farmers suggest that shares of commercialized produce, gross agricultural income, and plant diversity are significantly higher and thus more resilient in the former. Challenges to agroecological adoption, however, include limited public infrastructure, dearth of supporting policies, and external threats posed by utility-inspired economic agents.