Strengthening capacities: the challenging road towards the integration of an agroecotourism network in the Tacana Volcano foothills, Chiapas, México. This essay documents and analyses the experience and innovations of a group of peasant smallholders promoting organic farming in the Tacana volcano area of Chiapas, México. These producers are currently involved in a capability strengthening project consisting on proposals put forward by academic staff which consider smallholder needs and based on concepts such as agro-ecology, ecotourism development, and organizational strengthening. Training is an important means to achieve innovation; however, it is unlikely unless the following elements are present: actor agency, individual and collective participation, and knowledge sharing.

The effect of 61 strains of Bacillus thuringiensis native to Mexico was determined under laboratory conditions, on the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei, through bioassays carried out under controlled conditions (27±2ºC; 75±5% RH; photoperiod 12:12 h L:D). As expected, the most susceptible life stage of H. hampei proved to be the first instar larva, with an average mean lethal time of 6.4±1.8 days. The most virulent strains to the coffee berry borer were LBIT-129, LBIT-30 and LBIT-130 with estimated mean lethal concentration values of 21.04, 21.26 and 29.07 µg/g of diet, respectively.

The effect of 61 strains of Bacillus thuringiensis native to Mexico was determined under laboratory conditions, on the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei, through bioassays carried out under controlled conditions (27±2ºC; 75±5% RH; photoperiod 12:12 h L:D). As expected, the most susceptible life stage of H. hampei proved to be the first instar larva, with an average mean lethal time of 6.4±1.8 days. The most virulent strains to the coffee berry borer were LBIT-129, LBIT-30 and LBIT-130 with estimated mean lethal concentration values of 21.04, 21.26 and 29.07 µg/g of diet, respectively.