Promoting and executing sustainable agave plantations with the highest social and environmental standards.
We provide stability, quality, and transparency to a fragmented market.
WHO WE ARE
Proyecto Hijuelo is an agroecological platform that seeks to promote and executes sustainable agave plantations with the highest social and environmental standards.
We provide stability, quality, and transparency to a fragmented market.
WHY?
The mezcal industry has grown exponentially, leading to detrimental environmental and social consequences throughout its supply chain.
The mezcal rush has incited growers to plant as much agave as possible, causing massive deforestation. Additionally, the industry’s focus on a single agave species (Espadin) paired with the use of industrial agricultural practices has led to soil degradation and decreased biodiversity in the region.
Mezcal’s growth has been based on a fragmented supply chain ran mainly by middlemen (coyotes) that provide low and unstable income to the smallholder farmers, as they take a large cut from final sales. Lack of market accessibility and financing opportunities have left smallholder farmers out of the mezcal boom.
WHAT WE DO
Transforming agricultural ecosystems & collaborating with smallholder farming communities.
WHAT WE DO
We focus on producing a variety of agave species through two production models:
1. Enabling smallholder farming communities with inputs and support to ensure they are included in the mezcal industry growth
2. Through managing regenerative plantations that aim to a higher agroecological impact to contribute to a more positive environmental production model and away from the usual industrial exploitive agricultural models.
We sell agave in long-term fixed price offtaking agreements to mezcal brands who are seeking high quality grown agave, transparency and traceability in their supply chains, security of supply and margins, and deep impact.
Impact
ENVIROMENTAL IMPACT
We support the environment through implementing regenerative practices that increase soil health and biodiversity, while preventing water pollution and erosion. This includes cover cropping, multi-cropping, bio-fertilizer application, and planting trees.
SOCIAL IMPACT
We support smallholder farmers through our economic collaboration and skill-building, as well as through our collaboration with two partner NGOs that implement development programs focused on improving economic well being, nutritional education and implementation of food gardens, and women leadership.
