Zapopan, Jalisco.— The Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT) and the Government of Guanajuato have renewed their collaboration agreement to strengthen joint actions aimed at sustainability and ensure that agave cultivation for tequila production remains free from deforestation.
The agreement was signed by Aurelio López Rocha, president of the CRT, and José Lara Lona, Guanajuato’s Secretary of Water and Environment, who highlighted the state’s importance in the tequila industry.
“Since the implementation of the Environmental Responsible Agave (ARA) certification, more than 102 million agave plants have been registered in Guanajuato, covering over 30,000 hectares across the seven municipalities within the Tequila Denomination of Origin,” said López Rocha.
Guanajuato ranks as the second-largest producer of Blue Weber Agave, representing 11.85% of the total national inventory, with more than 5,800 registered growers.
Lara Lona emphasized that renewing the agreement reaffirms the state’s commitment to natural resource conservation and responsible agave production.
“We are renewing our vows to the Environmental Responsible Agave initiative. Tequila is tradition and a symbol of our contribution to the country,” he stated.
The ARA program, co-registered in 2021 with the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI), is a joint initiative between the CRT and the governments of Jalisco and Guanajuato that seeks to achieve a Deforestation-Free Tequila.
During the event, Paola Bauche Petersen, Secretary of Environment and Territorial Development of Jalisco, described ARA as a model of inter-state collaboration.
“The ARA certification is one of our greatest achievements. Without the CRT, it wouldn’t be possible. Let’s continue strengthening this shared vision,” she said.
To date, more than 2.7 million liters of ARA-certified Tequila have been produced. The renewed agreement also promotes sustainable agricultural practices, efficient energy and water use, and circular economy initiatives, reinforcing the tequila industry’s environmental commitment.
