elocation-id: e3820
This study aimed to analyze the sustainable cultivation and conservation of raicillero agaves since 2022, highlighting their role in the preservation of biodiversity in the raicilla industry. The central problem lies in the pressure on local ecosystems due to the increase in international demand for the distillate, which threatens the genetic diversity of the agave species used. Through a census methodology based on interviews, exhaustive documentary analysis, and statistical data, sustainable agricultural practices, such as the reforestation of wild agaves, and micropropagation techniques were identified in the 17 municipalities with the raicilla designation of origin; 16 in Jalisco: Atengo, Chiquilistlán, Juchitlán, Tecolotlán, Tenamaxtlán, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo Corrientes, Tomatlán, Atenguillo, Ayutla, Cuautla, Guachinango, Mascota, Mixtlán, San Sebastián del Oeste, and Talpa de Allende and 1 in Nayarit: Bahía de Banderas. The results indicate that Agave maximiliana Baker continues to dominate the cultivation for raicilla, which represents 75.4% of the current plantations, whereas Agave angustifolia Haw. and A. inaequidens have significant increases in adoption, reaching shares of 31.6% and 7%, respectively. It was concluded that it is essential to continue with the reforestation of agaves, implement public policies, sustainable certifications, and technological innovation to strengthen their competitiveness in international markets and ensure their contribution to rural development and environmental conservation in Mexico.
Agave angustifolia Haw., Agave inaequidens, Agave maximiliana Baker, raicilla.
Raicilla, an artisanal distillate originating in Jalisco, Mexico, has become a cultural and ecological emblem thanks to its traditional agricultural production methods and its roots in local communities (Cabrera et al., 2020). This distillate of various species of wild agave, known as ‘lechuguillas’, obtained the designation of origin (DO) in 2019, which improved its international impact (Zazueta et al., 2024). Nevertheless, its growing commercial demand can lead to a local problem by putting pressure on the natural resources and biodiversity of the wild agaves used.
In particular, the loss of genetic diversity and the impacts associated with the inadequate management of agroecosystems represent critical challenges for the sustainability of the sector (Cuevas-Coeto et al., 2019). Despite the richness in biodiversity that characterizes raicillero agaves, there is a knowledge gap on effective strategies to ensure their conservation and their integration into global markets that demand sustainability (Delgado et al., 2024).
The general objective of this work was to examine the gap through an exhaustive analysis of the sustainable cultivation of raicillero agaves in the 17 municipalities that make up the DO. In addition, innovation opportunities and strategies are presented to ensure the long-term viability of raicilla in a growing international market (Zazueta et al., 2024).
The central hypothesis states that agave reforestation strategies, sustainable soil management, and public policies can balance agricultural productivity with biodiversity conservation.
To answer this question, a methodology based on interviews, documentary analysis and the use of updated statistical data was applied. This approach allowed us to identify, in the results, the trends in the diversity of cultivated agave species and their impact on agroecological sustainability, to contribute to the understanding of how sustainable agricultural practices not only preserve natural resources but also guarantee the long-term viability of raicilla as an emblematic distillate of Mexico in a global context (Zizumbo-Villarreal et al., 2013).
The biodiversity of agave is a crucial component in the production of artisanal distillates, such as raicilla, mezcal, and tuxca (Zizumbo-Villarreal et al., 2013). Unlike tequila, which is produced exclusively from Agave tequilana Weber, the raicilla uses various species of agave, including Agave maximiliana Baker, A. inaequidens, A. rhodacantha, and A. angustifolia Haw. (Delgado et al., 2024). This genetic diversity not only fosters resilience to pests and diseases, but also enriches the organoleptic profile of the raicilla (Franco, 2015).
Intensive monocultures, such as tequila, have significantly reduced biodiversity in producing regions, causing soil degradation and the loss of key ecosystem services (Lucio, 2022). On the contrary, raicilla production, by integrating multiple species of agave, promotes an agroecological approach that balances productivity and conservation, as is the case of A. maximiliana, a threatened species that was rescued when it began to be domesticated in 2009 (Franco, 2015; García-Mendoza et al., 2019).
The genetic diversity of raicillero agaves is crucial for their adaptability to climate change, an urgent problem in global sustainable agriculture. Raicilla is an emblematic example of how traditional agricultural practices can be sustainable and culturally relevant (Bowen and Zapata, 2009; Franco, 2015). Producers employ techniques such as reforestation of wild agaves, crop rotation and recently, micropropagation and in vitro propagation techniques of agave are also used, minimizing negative impacts on local ecosystems (Aureoles et al., 2008; Valenzuela et al., 2008; Santacruz et al., 2022).
A highlight is the management of soils in raicilla-producing regions with conservation techniques, such as the use of terraces and intercropping (Torres-García et al., 2020). In addition, the integration of wild agaves into agricultural landscapes contributes to the preservation of ecological corridors that benefit local fauna and strengthen ecosystems (Torres-García et al., 2019). As the demand for raicilla grows, it will be crucial that these sustainable practices are protected and promoted through incentives and effective public policies. This includes creating certification programs that value responsible practices and foster smallholder participation in global markets (Martinez et al., 2024).
The future of raicilla depends to a large extent on its ability to innovate without losing its artisanal essence. The growing international demand for sustainable products represents an opportunity for this distillate, especially in markets such as Germany, the United States of America, and Japan, where consumers value authenticity and responsible practices (Nava et al., 2024).
The adoption of innovative technologies, such as drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to monitor lechuguilla crops and to optimize integrated agricultural management could increase efficiency in agave production, reducing the use of natural resources. These technologies have already proven to be effective in calculating the green biomass (Wt) of Agave durangensis Gentry using high-resolution drone imagery (López-Serrano et al., 2022).
In an interview with engineer Jorge Antonio Dueñas Peña, founder of the Mexican Council for the Promotion of Raicilla AC (CMPR), for its initialism in Spanish, and known among the guild of raicilla producers as the father of raicilla for having promoted and obtained its DO, comments that the CMPR has initiated sustainable certification strategies with homologation of processes between raicilla producers and inspections of taverns (Poot-Rodríguez and Mercado-Salgado, 2024; Zazueta et al., 2024).
In another interview, Jair Benjamín Godínez Herrera, a professor at ITESO University in Guadalajara, mentions the importance of ecotourism and digital platforms that highlight sustainable practices and their artisanal nature, which could expand the reach of raicilla to more countries (Zazueta et al., 2024).
The production of raicilla stands out for its important ecological and cultural relevance in Jalisco since the sixteenth century, where it has also been known as mezcal wine or wine of the hill (Franco, 2015). In contrast to the extensive industrialization of tequila, raicilla retains the artisanal methods that strengthen community ties within its producing regions (Bowen and Zapata, 2009). The cultural impact includes the preservation of ancient knowledge, such as underground kiln firing and natural fermentation.
These traditions enhance the distillate’s profile and encourage community participation in production (Tetreault et al., 2021). In terms of sustainability, the cultural practices of the raicilla include ancestral methods in the collection of wild agaves and respect for natural resources, according to the raicilla master Manuel Salcedo Gutiérrez, from Mascota, Jalisco and former president of the CMPR, in an interview (Delgado et al., 2024).
Biodiversity is one of the fundamental pillars of raicilla production, the preservation of wild agaves and genetic diversity are essential (Trejo-Salazar et al., 2016). The raicilla-producing regions are home to up to 15 species of agave, this biodiversity protects from pests and improves ecological stability. Lechuguilla polycultures promote pollination and soil quality, these conservation initiatives benefit both raicilla producers and communities (Figure 1) (Franco, 2015; Sánchez-González, 2025).
In interviews with the former municipal presidents of Mascota, Miguel Castillón López and Sara Eugenia Castillón Ochoa, the ecological importance of sustainable co-cultivation of agaves and pines is highlighted, since the raicilla is a shade mezcal because the lechuguillas grows among the trees of the sierra, as shown in Figure 1A. The growing demand for artisanal distillates presents a substantial opportunity for raicilla producers, but to penetrate international markets, it is necessary to overcome complex logistical, regulatory and cultural challenges, particularly to achieve the strict quality standards that prevail in countries such as Germany, the United States of America and Japan (Bowen and Zapata, 2009).
Export analyses indicate that raicilla holds great promise in niche markets focused on sustainability and authenticity, with organic and fair trade certifications, which are differentiators in a crowded market (IIEGJ, 2024; Pablo et al., 2024). In addition, marketing strategies that stress the artisanal nature and sustainable practices of raicilla could attract consumers looking for responsible alternatives (Trejo-Salazar et al., 2016). A key factor in thriving in global markets is facilitating profits for producers, which requires public policies with subsidies, training, and financial access to help raicilla producers meet international standards (Poot-Rodríguez and Mercado-Salgado, 2024).
The statistical data were obtained from surveys conducted by the Institute of Statistical and Geographic Information of Jalisco (IIEGJ, for its acronym in Spanish) in its 2024 report, ‘statistical radiography of the raicilla industry’, in collaboration with the CMPR. A census methodology was used to improve response rates, juxtaposing data from 2022 and 2023. The measurement scale in all cases was adjusted to relative percentages due to the type of information obtained.
It is important to note that, although 13.8% of the surveyed raicilla producers began working before 2005, 75.1% established themselves since 2011, and a notable expansion has been observed in recent years in these agricultural ecosystems (IIEGJ, 2024).
Of the types of agaves grown since 2022 in the DO protection zone, the following was observed: in 2023, 70.2% of raicilla producers chose Agave maximiliana Baker, which increased to 75.4% in 2024, maintaining its status as the most popular. It is followed by Agave angustifolia Haw., with a potential increase of 22.8% to 31.6% in early 2024. In third place, Agave inaequidens Koch., is also gaining traction, with an expected increase of 7% in early 2024, compared to 5.3% in 2023 (Figure 2).
Regarding the percentage distribution of agaves planted according to their years of maturation, raicilla producers calculated an average of 13.7% of agaves planted in 2024, compared to 22.2% in the previous year, and there is a reduction in years of maturation, going from 21.2% in 2023 to 20.1% in 2024 of one-year-old agaves, and from 25.1% to 20.6% of two-year-old agaves by 2024 (Figure 3).
Regarding the percentages of agave planted by municipalities in the DO since 2022, Mascota is the leading municipality in agave cultivation, despite a decrease from 40.4% in 2022 to 33.3% in 2024, followed by Mixtlán, which maintains a share of 33.3% in 2024. Cabo Corrientes and Talpa de Allende have a combined share of 25% for raicillero agaves plantations in 2024, despite lower percentages than in previous years (Figure 4).
Regarding the percentage of hectares planted by municipality, Mascota leads with 36% in 2024, whereas Mixtlán reached 29.8%. Atenguillo had a decrease from 16.8% in 2023 to 6.4% in 2024, while municipalities such as Tecolotlán, Atengo, Juchitlán, Puerto Vallarta and Tomatlán, despite the decrease in shares, have greater diversification in their sustainable agriculture of agaves for raicilla (Figure 5) (IIEGJ, 2024).
Raicilla production represents a comprehensive model of sustainable agriculture by combining traditional farming methods with the conservation of agave biodiversity. The results obtained highlight the predominance of Agave maximiliana, which increased from 70.2% in 2023 to 75.4% in 2024, reflecting its preference as a keystone species for its hardiness and yield. At the same time, the increase in the adoption of Agave angustifolia and A. inaequidens, which reached shares of 31.6% and 7% respectively, underlines the importance of diversification in agricultural production (IIEGJ, 2024).
Sexual reproduction of raicillero agaves by seed offers advantages over clonal propagation of species such as Agave tequilana Weber and ensures long-term raw material availability (Martínez et al., 2022). The integration of multiple agave species reinforces ecosystem services, such as pollination and soil fertility, essential factors to maintain the stability of agroecosystems, especially in vulnerable regions (Trejo-Salazar et al., 2016).
Mascota is the largest producing municipality, with 36% of the hectares allocated to agave in 2024, although it presents a slight decrease compared to previous years due to crop rotation in that municipality. Despite its leadership, it is necessary to diversify productive activity in other regions to ensure long-term ecological sustainability and avoid overexploitation of resources in concentrated areas.
Sustainable agricultural practices, such as agave reforestation, soil management through terraces and intercropping, and the use of biofertilizers, have proven effective in balancing productivity and environmental conservation (Torres-García et al., 2020).
Sustainable agriculture of raicillero agaves is also driven by their potential as a raw material in biotechnology (Navarro-Badilla et al., 2023). Based on the above, the following actions are suggested: 1) reforestation of wild agaves in collaboration with local communities and academics to ensure the regeneration of the species used (Nuño and Navarro, 2021); 2) promoting the adoption of organic and fair trade certifications that allow the differentiation of raicilla in international markets (Delgado Aceves et al., 2024); 3) encouraging innovation, research and development of technologies that optimize agricultural and distillation processes (Martínez et al., 2022) and 4) strengthening public policies with regulatory frameworks that protect traditional practices and promote sustainability in raicilla production, as well as the promotion of training programs (Bowen and Zapata, 2009; IIEGJ, 2024).
Raicilla production exemplifies sustainability by merging traditional agriculture with modern practices that conserve agave biodiversity. The interest in Agave maximiliana, along with the interest in A. angustifolia and A. inaequidens, illustrates the balance between crop resilience and diversification. The use of multiple agave species ensures long-term raw material availability and improves resilience against pests, diseases, and environmental challenges.
The leadership of municipalities such as Mascota in the cultivation of agaves for raicilla emphasizes the need to focus on key regions while advocating for agricultural diversification to promote sustainability and mitigate overexploitation. In addition, the implementation of agroecological practices, such as agaves reforestation, and the recent introduction of micropropagation and in vitro propagation techniques of agaves can improve productivity and at the same time, preserve ecological integrity, thus fostering a balance between innovation and tradition, which is essential for the future of raicilla.
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