Post-Doc, UDGVirtual
Thesis Title: Geographical Indications and sustainability: The Tequila Case
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ABSTRACT
The sustainability of agricultural management of blue agave (Agave tequilana Weber) was evaluated using a scale for the evaluation of management systems incorporating indicators for sustainability in the valley of Amatitán-Tequila (VAT) region of origin of the appellation tequila. The attributes of the system such as the stability, resilience, and dependability are evaluated with 11 indicators that have a relationship to soil management and diversity of cultures.
Looking back over a period of 20 years (1983-2003), you can see that the monoculture of agave, a cloning of a genetic variety, cultivated in tropical grounds of low Capacity Exchange Cationic is less sustainable. The index of greater use of pesticides (herbicides, insecticides and fungicides) and the persistence of insects and diseases reflect the fragility of the system of handling used by agribusiness and farmers. The reduction of the sustainability of the agricultural management in the last 20 years in the region of Origin represents an extractive pattern of resource management.
There were difficulties in the methodology for calculating economic indicators and productivity indicators, but not for the indicators related to the soil degradation. The economic instability for the price of agave and its cycles influence the sustainable management. The detection of the problems of monoculture and the deficient contributions of nutrients had already been reported for this region since the Fifties.
Investigation is recommended that focuses on the nutrient balance of the plantations and on policies of soil conservation for the VAT. The VAT is the cultural patrimony of the Appellation of Origin Tequila and its cultural value and the value of the landscape has been recognized to be conserved. The participation of small farm owners and agribusiness that cultivate agave in the VAT, governmental and of education requires a reflection on the Mexican doctrine Geographical Indications of origin and the environmental, commercial and cultural value of this heritage.
