Pioneering Sustainable
Transformation:
Adopting Sustainable Practices in
the Agave Industry in Jalisco,
Mexico.
By: Diego Servin Herrera
Table of Contents
Literature Review
Research Gap
Methodology
Results
Discussion
Limitations
Recommendations
Literature Review
Jalisco has been characterized as one of the
most powerful states in the development of
agricultural practices.
The state contributes with 41 billion tons of
different crops to the national and international
market.
Over 330,000 hectares of agave in cultivation,
owned by 9,000 producers, and creating around
29,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The massive production of agave has emerged
from an urgent need to meet the high demand
for tequila
The improvement of farming practices has been
highly focused on the effectiveness and quality
of the plant, neglecting the resulting negative
externalities.
High soil erosion, alteration of the landscape,
deforestation of hills and mountains,
deterioration of several species in the region, and
chemical pollution.
Shortcoming of government regulation, and a
general lack of prioritization of sustainability.
Research Gap
Not enough literature on the application of
effective, sustainable processes in the agave
industry in the region of Jalisco.
Agave perceived merely as a source of
income rather than a possible risk for the
environment.
Analytical and humanistic approach to fully
understand the actual situation and
limitations of the stakeholders to take action.
How Can Agave Industry Restructure Agricultural
Practices to Achieve Regional Sustainability in
Jalisco, Mexico?
Methodology
QUALITATIVE APPROACH
Site visit to Jalisco highlands Five interviews to:
Independent agave producers
Contract labourers
Day labourers
Tequila company owners
Site Visit
A site visit was made to the region
of the Jalisco highlands.
Specifically to Betania, Arandas,
and Atotonilco municipalities.
A visit to the distillery of Tequila
Rancho La Joya ®, located in
Betania, Jalisco. It was observed:
The procedure of Jimamiento
Plantation process
Treatment and process at the
tequila distillery
Explorative Interviews
Lourdes Ramirez Tapia Daniel Guzman Garcia Daniel Servin Tabarez Rodolfo Servin Tabarez Isaac Garcia Hernandez
Day Labourer Contract Labourer Independant Agave Independant Agave Tequila Company
Producer Producer Owner
20 years of 22 years of 19 years of 7 years of 18 years of
experience experience experience experience experience
Results
TRADITIONAL PRACTICES VS. ADAPTATION
Traditional practices should prevail; however, there
should always be an adaptation towards
innovation, technology, and responsible
consumption of resources in the production
process.
Government should enforce tighter regulations
upon the prevalence of the traditional process as
many actors in the industry have already
manipulated.
"A strategy that considers cultural and demographic
factors for a common benefit"
-Daniel Guzman.
6
SUSTAINABILITY AS A SOURCE OF PROFIT
Agave leaf fibers can be used to manufacture
fabrics, eco-friendly straws, and parts of the
tequila bottle.
Sustainability can be seen as an opportunity to
pioneer creativity in many sectors.
"The obtention of raw material from mother
plantations that, after one year of planting,
begin to produce offspring plants, helps to
properly economize and reduce the
environment impact of future investments"
-Isaac Garcia.
EDUCATION AS A MAIN LIMITATION OF
SUSTAINABILITY
More than 40% of the people who own agave
plantations do not have the necessary
information or skills to manage resources
responsibly.
Lack of education is a problem at the national
level, where different industries, not only the
agave industry, are affected.
Absence of knowledge of organic pesticides in
the industry can significantly deter soil erosion
and avoid side consequences.
DEFORESTATION IS AN URGENT ISSUE TO
ADDRESS
Deforestation has been of great relevance, and
actions are being taken on the matter, however
there is a lack of efficiency.
Deforestation is a factor that highly contributes
to climate change and that it must be regulated
as soon as possible.
"They use machinery to remove stones, trees,
plants, changing the landscape abruptly,"
-Lourdes Ramirez.
POTENTIAL CHALLENGES
IMPLEMENTING A SUSTAINABLE PLAN
- Large gap of lack of education in the entire
agricultural sector that leads to greater
challenges.
- Lack of economic resources from many
investors and actors in the industry.
- Absence of reliable institutions that can
regulate and coordinate the conditions of such
plan.
"The complexity will increase depending on the
capacity for adaptation of the actors involved."
- Rodolfo Servin
TEQUILA REGULATORY COUNCIL AS
COORDINATOR OF A TRANSVERSAL PLAN
The creation of a subdivision within the
organization allows for a better approach to the
social, environmental, demographic, and
geographic challenges.
the creation of a subdivision within the Council
to oversee compliance of sustainable standards,
could be a structured strategy to reduce
limitations.
"It is an institution that is in direct contact with
all stakeholders and is aware of its capabilities
and limitations, which is why its involvement is
ideal."
-Isaac Garcia.
Discussion
1 2 3
Expanding the appellation of origin Implementation of this strategy The recommendations were shaped
to other regions and states before must involve great efforts to primarily by considering these main
opting for destroying hills and educate all actors on this issue. challenges obtained : Lack of
flora. education, The shortage of economic
resources, The absence of reliable
institutions.
4
Regarding the importance of the 5 Obtaining some profit during the 6 The creation of subdivision in the
prevalence of tradition, it is implementation of this adaptation Tequila Regulatory Council is ideal
mandatory to appropriately revise may motivate to accelerate this to implement this strategy
the core activities that cannot be sustainability process.
replaced
Limitations
The lack of technical knowledge in the field
of agriculture.
A possible bias in the interviewees.
Recommendations
Federal Government:
Monetary incentives or free trials of organic
pesticides to achieve the reduction of ordinary
pesticides.
Tequila Regulatory Council
Analyzing the economic context to identify
medium and long-term tequila market forecasts
to obtain a plan that is better adjusted to future
needs.
Agave Farmers
Avoiding leaving pesticide wrappers or
containers on the ground, preventing fauna from
ingesting them, and promoting a culture of
recycling.
Thank You!
