While authentic agave cultivation follows sustainable methods, many tequila companies abandoned these methods in an attempt to meet surging demands, using faster, industrialized processes and inflicting significant harm on delicate ecosystems. The Gente Buena Foundation is committed to revitalizing local ecosystems and providing resources and training for agave producers who are interested in returning to traditional sustainable methods.

Advancing Sustainable Agave Practices

The Gente Buena Foundation collaborates with the College of Michoacán and the University of Guadalajara to facilitate dialogue among agronomists and agave producers and exchange knowledge about sustainable agricultural practices, such as transitioning to agroecology. These practices promise to reduce environmental impact, preserve biodiversity, and enhance soil health while lowering production costs for farmers.

Reforestation

Gente Buena and our university collaborators work hand-in-hand with local landowners and community members to reforest tequila-producing regions that were cleared for industrialized agave production. This includes providing access to seedlings, tools, and educational workshops on sustainable reforestation practices (i.e., selecting native plant species and proper planting techniques) and facilitating community-led planting and landscape management events to foster a sense of shared responsibility for long-term care of the land. 

These collaborative reforestation initiatives help enhance biodiversity and attract a wider variety of plant and animal life, revitalize overworked soil by restoring nutrients from native trees and plants, and reduce the risk of floods or droughts by regulating waterflow throughout the watershed.