The significance of agricultural diversity objects in daily existence

The exhibition “Daily life: The Importance of Mexican Agrobiodiversity” opens today at 12 noon in the Dahlia forum of the Botanical Garden of the Institute of Biology (IB) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. This exhibition showcases objects that were once essential in people’s daily lives, now appreciated as crafts or decorative items.

Among the over 400 pieces in the exhibition, notable items include an Ixtle shirgo made from the leaves of Yucca filifera, a mule suadero for pack animals, and a unique honey box. Visitors will also see a variety of ancient tools and traps used by fishermen, as well as traditional chairs from indigenous cultures depicted in pre-Hispanic codices.

The purpose of the exhibition, as explained by exhibition coordinator Linda Balcázar Sol, is to broaden the perspective of agrobiodiversity beyond staples like corn, beans, and chili. It showcases how agricultural diversity plays a role in clothing, food, utensils, tools, and even traditional healing practices.

Featuring contributions from nine botanical gardens, the Mexican Association of Botanical Gardens, the Mexican Ethnobiological Association, and Friends of the Botanical Garden, the exhibition includes sections on jewelry made from natural materials, basketry, textiles, and medicinal plants.

Balcázar Sol emphasizes that the exhibition prompts reflection on the utilization of natural resources, illustrating how people have historically crafted a wide range of products from nature. The showcase serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving natural elements amidst industrialization and plastic pollution.

The exhibition was curated in collaboration with ethnobotanist Leonardo Beltrán Rodríguez and Salma Gómez Ibarra from the educational department of the Institute of Biology. It serves as a unique opportunity for visitors to connect with nature and appreciate the ingenuity of traditional crafts sourced from the environment.