Rural development and environmental protection through the use of biofertilizers in agriculture: An alternative for underdeveloped countries?

Economic momentum of underdeveloped countries derived from the generation and application of their endogenous knowledge is an essential factor toward achieving social welfare. Thus, it is important to understand the development of science and technology within these underdeveloped countries, how the application of that development can address problems in agriculture and food needs, and how that development can offer sustainable options for growth and optimization. In addition, many small farmers in underdeveloped countries are already planting crops based on biotechnological products, which is significant in terms of how these activities influence the development of their lives, particularly with respect to the generation of policies aimed at farming areas. This paper is an exploratory study on the perceptions of peasant producers of the effects of biofertilizers on their environment and their lives. This research is based on a study of peasant producers of the State of Morelos, Mexico, who use biofertilizers produced from endogenous technological assets, i.e., that involve private actors and public research centers. The results facilitate understanding the perceptions of these peasants in addition to the challenges and opportunities that rural areas face and the connections between the involvement of business, academia and government in planning and administration with respect to the management of these innovations.