KindHarvest summary: Agave is attracting attention in California as growers look for crops that can tolerate severe water constraints. A new grower network and a UC Davis research fund are examining whether the crop can be produced and processed competitively under California conditions.
What is being tested
The California Agave Council was formed to connect growers, distillers and retailers who previously lacked a formal network. UC Davis also established the Stuart & Lisa Woolf Fund for Agave Research with a US$100,000 seed gift. The Woolfs had already planted about 900 agave plants on a 1.5-acre Central Valley test plot.
Research questions include which varieties suit California’s rainfall and growing conditions, how irrigation and labour requirements compare with Mexican production, and what flavours emerge after distillation. Agave also has possible uses as fibre and alternative sweetener, widening the potential market beyond spirits.
Why it matters
A drought-tolerant perennial could give water-stressed regions another option for lower-input land use, but commercial success depends on agronomy, processing capacity and reliable buyers. The pilot work is therefore as much about building a value chain as proving that the plants can grow.
Source and credit
This KindHarvest Team brief is based on reporting by Paul Rusnak for Growing Produce, published 14 September 2022. Read the original article at Growing Produce.