Behind the Deforestation-Free Future of Mexican Avocados

Each year, the US consumes more than a million tonnes of avocados across toast, guacamole and even cosmetics.

Mexican avocados make up 80% of those in the US, and they can travel as far as Canada, Europe and Asia.

Like most farming, growing and exporting avocados has an impact on both the environment and people, in part due to water use, soil degradation and deforestation. 

Starting in January 2026, the US’s supply of Mexican avocados will be deforestation-free.

The Mexican avocado industry has signed an agreement with the Federal Government of Mexico to ensure that by 2030, this will extend to all of its global exports.

The avocado industry is the first across Mexico’s entire agricultural sector to do so and hopes that others will follow. 

“We are trying to make sure that we have the accountability mechanisms to protect the future of our industry, but also to respond to what consumers and stakeholders and our customers are asking us for,” says Ana Ambrosi, Director of the Avocado Institute of Mexico.

“I think we live in a world where leading with purpose is important and sustainability is not a nice to have anymore. It's a must.”

The scale of Mexican avocados

Trade group Avocados from Mexico now imports 2.5 billion pounds of avocados each year, more than double the 1.2 billion pounds it imported in 2014.

The country has more than 54,000 orchards, supports 78,000 direct jobs in Mexico and more than 42,000 US jobs

Most of these orchards, Ana explains, are “really small family farms”. 

Mexico is the only place in the world that can grow avocados year-round.

“The industry has a huge socioeconomic impact, driving economic benefits and creating jobs on both sides of the US border,” she says. 

How Mexican avocados impact the environment

In 2023, a Climate Rights International investigation found illegal deforestation and water sourcing in the Mexican states of Michoacán and Jalisco. 

It said that the total amount of avocado-driven deforestation in these areas is likely between 40,000 and 70,000 acres. 

The removal of native forests for avocado monocultures could reduce biodiversity, deplete local water resources and even increase the risk of floods and landslides. 

Deforestation itself releases greenhouse gases and can reduce the landscape’s ability to store carbon.

According to the World Avocado Organisation, avocados have a total average water footprint of around 800 litres per kilogram and 2.4 kg of CO₂ emissions per kilogram.

This is a smaller environmental footprint than foods like beef, chocolate and coffee but larger than some other fruits like bananas and cherries. 

Ana says that more than 60% of Mexican avocado orchards rely solely on rainfall and the rest use micro sprinkling and drip irrigation. 

More than 80 volcanos surround the avocado producing region in Michoacán, making the soil rich, and Ana describes the climate as "perfect". 

Mexico’s plan for deforestation-free avocados

The federal initiative includes accountability and monitoring mechanisms to secure global market access. 

This is alongside pathways to regularisation and environmental compensation for eligible orchards 

From January 2026, non-compliant produce will not qualify for export.

The industry estimates that at least 75% of its 54,000 orchards will qualify in the first year.

Enrique Audifred, Vice President of Sustainability for the Association of Avocado Exporting Producers and Packers of Mexico, says: “We appreciate the positive dialogue and collaboration with the federal government. 

“This conservation agreement reflects our shared goal to restore and preserve Mexico’s forests in action.

 “Our industry will continue to build a resilient and sustainable future for the Avocado Landscape of Mexico, delivering results that go far beyond this agreement.”

Sustainability efforts for Mexican avocados

Ana explains: “More than 90% of the 54,000 orchards are sitting in places where they haven’t been deforested or have no deforestation issues.

“When we started working on this new strategy, we acknowledged that growers and packers have responsibly produced avocados for generations. 

“They have a lot of existing initiatives and programmes to address sustainability, but we really needed a new framework and strategic vision to guide our efforts.”

A Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) report was completed to evaluate the impacts and dependencies of the industry on nature and identify gaps and risks. 

The industry identified four priority areas to focus its efforts on:

• Water
• Biodiversity
• Climate
• Deforestation

In April, the Path to Sustainability was launched and an action plan was designed to support implementation. 

By 2030, it aims to achieve net zero deforestation across the Mexican avocado landscape. 

Ramon Paz-Vega, Strategic Consultant for the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association, says: “We’re grateful for the government’s partnership in this effort — especially as we make progress under our Path to Sustainability, which expands our commitment to protecting Mexico’s forests, water, biodiversity and more.”

Ana says: “This strategy and connecting thread took a while to develop, but I think we’re finally in a place where we’re united with one vision throughout the supply chain.”