Fabiola Torres Monfil highlights the dramatic changes in the landscapes around San Diego la Mesa Tochimiltzingo, Puebla, due to intensive agave farming. Once, the hills were adorned with agave quiotes, but the rise of mezcal's popularity since its UNESCO recognition has led to increased cultivation of a single agave species. As the demand for mezcal rises, it raises concerns among local mezcal makers about the sustainability of their craft, given agave's delicate life cycle, which can take decades to mature and is now under threat from industrial practices.
Fabiola Torres Monfil expresses concern over the rapid cultivation of agave in her hometown, noting a marked decline in natural agave diversity, once abundant in the landscape.
The rising global popularity of mezcal since its UNESCO recognition has led to increased agave farming, prompting environmental shifts that threaten traditional cultivation practices in Puebla.
Once a dominant presence in the hills, agave quiotes have become rare due to industrial farming methods, raising alarms for local mezcal artisans about the future of their craft.
Agave species, representing 75% of the world's total, have delicate life cycles that stress the importance of sustainable practices amid growing commercial demand for mezcal.
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