Mexico celebrates corn biodiversity and Xochimilco traditions

Mexico maintains a vast biodiversity of corn, with the government reporting 64 different types of corn races, 59 of which are considered native. These varieties are categorized into seven racial complexes based on genetic and morphological characteristics, including the Conic group found in central highlands and the Sierra de Chihuahua group in northern regions.

To celebrate this agricultural heritage, the third edition of the Ax-Elote Cultural Festival is scheduled to take place from September 11 to September 13, 2026, in Xochimilco, Mexico City. Organized by Tradición Chinampera, the event focuses on corn cultivated in the chinampas of Xochimilco.

The festival will feature various corn-based preparations, such as roasted corn, esquites with beef, marrow, or shrimp, and corn-based desserts. The initiative aims to recognize the work of chinampero producers and promote the preservation of traditional agricultural systems.