Artisanal Products and Land-Use Land-Cover Change in Indigenous Communities: The Case of Mezcal Production in Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract

Artisanal products are considered an alternative to industrial production; however, upon entering global commodity markets, pressures are placed on the territories and customary governance of producer communities. Through the lenses of land system science and telecouplings, this paper examines the links connecting global markets and artisanal products, using the case of mezcal production in an Indigenous community in Oaxaca, Mexico, and the resulting impacts to LULC (land-use and land-cover) dynamics and associated governance. Data were collected through document review, semi-structured interviews, and LULC analysis comparing the years 1993, 2001, 2013, and 2019. Agave crops expanded from 6 to 14% during 1993–2001, stabilized through 2001–2013, and expanded from 14 to 22% during 2013–2019. Market dynamics played a crucial role in the resultant LULC changes, with the biggest impact on tropical dry forest (TDF). The LULC results were coupled with tequila markets during the first two periods, while the third period was linked to new mezcal markets. Our research shows how artisanal production can drive LULC changes. However, customary governance institutions can mediate the relationship between producers and markets to support more sustainable management of territorial resources, including TDF as an ecologically important but locally undervalued forest type.

Genomic analysis unveils reduced genetic variability but increased proportion of heterozygotic genotypes of the intensively managed mezcal agave, Agave angustifolia

“…The demand for mezcal‐like beverages has been growing fast and shows no sign of decreasing. However, activities related to mezcal production are already threatening the natural population of over 40 agave species, changing traditional agricultural land‐use, deforesting pristine natural lands, and decreasing biodiversity (Delgado‐Lemus et al, 2014; Goettsch et al, 2021; Tetreault et al, 2021; Lira et al, 2022). These practices degrade and reduce the natural communities and endanger the traditional landraces of many species in these high diversity areas of Mexico.…”

“…In recent decades, the production of alcoholic beverages derived from agave distillation in Mexico has been growing exponentially (Arellano‐Plaza et al, 2022), threatening wild agave populations, destroying natural vegetation, and introducing intensive management to cultivation (Tetreault et al, 2021; Lira et al, 2022). Alongside tequila, mezcal has become an iconic Mexican alcoholic beverage (Arellano‐Plaza et al, 2022).…”

Trans-mountain Moonshine: Liquor, Identity, and Resistance in the Appalachian and Carpathian Mountains

“…In Oaxaca, research shows that the expansion of a global market for mezcal has brought development opportunities to rural communities, but it has also put pressure on land, resources, and the traditional governance systems that regulate use of the commons (Lira et al 2022a;Lira et al 2022b). The formalization of production that global marketing requires also means establishing production standards, which can cover everything from the specific raw materials to be used (including how and where they are sourced), highly regimented production practices, location of production, safety and hygiene standards, among other things.…”