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Brazil, Mexico and Uruguay have adopted wind energy as a means to fight climate change. However, their experiences are different and insufficiently documented. This paper analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the wind industry in light of its future expansion in Latin America. The methodology consists of the systematization and analysis of literature written in Spanish, Portuguese and English. Four advantages and five disadvantages were identified. The advantages are wind energy's reduced carbon footprint, low production costs, the potential for job creation and income from land rentals, while the disadvantages are possible vegetation loss, impact on birds and water sources, oil and waste contamination and health damage. The challenges for public policy are: supporting research on the socioenvironmental impacts of the wind industry and designing tools for their mitigation; developing a full supply chain of materials through technological innovation; distributing the benefits of wind energy equally among the local population, and prioritizing public needs of electricity above the interest of the private sector. If these challenges are not fully met, wind energy projects will be part of a hegemonic structure that claims to solve the problems created by climate change, while in fact continuing to use an extractivist logic, incapable of benefitting people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the second half of the 20Th century, the municipality of Hopelchén (Campeche), Southeast Mexico, became the target of programs designed to promote industrial agriculture through the opening of agricultural lands at the expense of the tropical forest. This model gained strength during the first two decades of the 21st century with the introduction of new crops. The objective of this paper is to analyze the factors that favored the expansion of genetically modified soybean in a region characterized by a longstanding milpa and beekeeping tradition. In order to achieve this objective, a mixed methodology is used, including apiary recognition, in-depth interviews (N=40), questionnaires (N=80) and workshops. Results show that the lack of convergence between different productive logics led to a socio-environmental conflict that can be attributed to the transformation of traditional agriculture and to the reduction of vegetation for honey production. The State played a crucial role in the promotion of industrial agriculture due to the government incentives that increased soybean production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]