Innovation networks in milpa production systems

Innovation is a process that is not only developed in educational and research institutions. In rural territories, agricultural producers are constantly innovating through the use of tacit or explicit knowledge. This knowledge comes from a variety of information sources, so producers interact with different actors. The aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between the social interaction, innovation and yields obtained by milpa system producers in six municipalities of the Yucatan Peninsula, in order to propose alternative innovation management strategies that generate individual and collective well-being in the territories. In total, 149 direct interviews were conducted with milpa system producers and then analyzed using the Social Network Analysis methodological tool. Results indicate different network structures in the municipalities depending on their level of innovation, information exchange processes and productive parameters. The factors to be developed in these types of networks refer to increases in the density of their relationships, the diversity of information sources and the quality of the links expressed in improving their productivity.