The rise of the so-called “green gold” from Michoacán This has led state authorities and international distribution chains to shift towards more responsible models. The goal is no longer just to sell more avocados, but to be able to certify that the production is free from deforestation and it is not associated with the destruction of forests.
In this context, the Michoacán avocado is beginning to position itself as a product with added environmental value, especially relevant for the markets of United States and Europewhere consumers, NGOs, and large supermarkets are demanding clear guarantees about the origin of what they buy. This shift in focus is redefining how avocados destined for export are produced, controlled, and marketed. agricultural sustainability.
Certifications for a deforestation-free avocado
The government of Michoacán has promoted a specific environmental certification for avocadosThis certification is designed to guarantee that exported fruit does not come from orchards cleared at the expense of forests. It relies on independent verification systems and technological tools that allow the product's origin to be traced from the orchard to the packaging.
Among the initiatives, the voluntary scheme stands out. ProForest Avocado, which according to the State Secretariat of the Environment guarantees that the avocado consumed in Michoacán homes and that destined for export. respect forest lifeThis seal has become a key element in differentiating the "clean" product from that linked to deforestation.
According to environmental authorities, work has already been carried out over 240.000 avocado cut reviews Under this control system, it is possible to verify that the fruit comes from orchards that meet the no-deforestation criteria. Furthermore, there are at least 235 additional orchards in the certification processThis data reflects the growing interest of producers and packing plants in regularizing their situation and aligning themselves with the demands of the international market.
This certification not only has a local impact; it is also of particular interest to the European consumer, who is increasingly sensitive to the environmental impacts linked to your shopping basketFor distribution in Spain and other EU countries, being able to display a "deforestation-free" seal becomes a first-rate commercial and reputational tool.
The role of the Forest Guardian satellite system
To provide technical support for these certifications, Michoacán has launched the Forest Guardian satellite surveillance systemThis tool compares satellite photographs from different years to detect changes in land use, identifying whether a forest area was transformed into an avocado orchard after a reference date (2018).
The system was developed by young teams from the state itself and has become the basis for environmental verification of orchards. Based on the information it generates, the authorities have determined that, of some 58.000 orchards accredited for export, about 2.500 do not meet the criteria of not having deforested after 2018.
These orchards, which represent between 7.000 and 8.000 hectares, excluded from the certified commercial circuitThe packing plants that consolidate fruit for export consult the Forest Guardian's database and, if an orchard is flagged for deforestation after the deadline, they simply They don't buy their productionIn this way, the technological tool translates into a very effective economic filter.
This control model, based on satellite technology and traceability, is generating interest beyond Mexico. For buyers in the European Union, accustomed to seeing similar systems in other agricultural products, the fact that Michoacán avocados have a traceable and audited mechanism It is an argument that facilitates its entry into supermarkets and restaurant chains that manage strict environmental policies.
In practice, the Forest Guardian has become a tool that unites the Forest protection with market rulesThose who respect the rules have access to the main international buyers; those who do not are left out of the most profitable channels.
International demand and pressure from supermarkets and NGOs
The push for "deforestation-free" certification does not originate solely from the Michoacán authorities; it also responds to a growing pressure from consumers, NGOs and large retail chainsUS supermarkets like Costco, Target, Kroger, or Whole Foods already They require environmental certification. as a condition for acquiring avocados from Michoacán.
According to official figures, around 90% of the avocados exported by Michoacán The rest of the world already has non-deforestation accreditation, and the goal declared by the state government is that 100% of the export —especially the one that is sent for large mass consumption events like the Super Bowl— be fully certified in the next cycles.
This change is also linked to the actions of international environmental organizationsIn previous years, some NGOs filed a complaint within the framework of the T-MEC and promoted letters signed by US senators to limit or slow down the entry of Michoacán avocadosclaiming that it was causing the destruction of pine and oak forests.
With the implementation of the Forest Guardian program and the new certification scheme, these same organizations have gone from calling for the border to be closed to Mexican avocados to audit and endorse the control systemGroups such as Climate Rights International, As You Sow, and the Council for Biodiversity are now exerting pressure from within the shareholders' councils of large retail chains so that only fruit that is verified as deforestation-free is purchased.
For the European market, where public scrutiny of the environmental impact of imported products is increasing, having a system backed by NGO with an international presence This helps build trust. Supermarkets in Spain, France, Germany, or the Nordic countries can incorporate these guarantees into their responsible purchasing policies, aligning themselves with the demands of consumers who don't want their money to finance deforestation or ecosystem degradation.
Reporting crimes, reparations, and curbing the criminal economy
The commercial aspect is only one side of the coin. At the same time, the Michoacán government has initiated environmental complaints to federal and state authorities —including Profepa and the local Prosecutor's Office—, as well as civil actions aimed at achieving the repair of environmental damage caused by the illegal opening of orchards in forest areas.
The orchards identified as responsible for deforestation represent thousands of hectares that could become, for the first time, a emblematic case of forest land recovery on a large scale in the state. The official position is that those who deforested have the obligation to reforest or compensate for the damageso that the economic benefit obtained through illegal practices is offset by the requirement to restore the environment.
Authorities have also acknowledged that, in earlier stages, the Illegal deforestation was linked to organized crimewhich cleared forested areas and then sold the land, transformed into orchards, as profitable businesses. To break this model, a legal reform affecting the Public Registry of Property.
With this reform, when a person tries to buy a property or an avocado orchard, notaries will have to check if there is any record of it in the registry. note on previous deforestationIf there is one, that history must be recorded in the deed, which makes the environmental history of the land a visible cargo to potential buyers and makes it difficult to buy and sell properties opened illegally.
These types of measures aim to reduce the criminal economy linked to the avocado business and to establish conditions so that the cultivation, like other export products such as berries or agave, is carried out legally and within a framework of sustainability. For Europe, where due diligence in supply chains is increasingly demanding, ensuring that the origin of avocados is free from links to illicit activities is an increasingly relevant aspect when defining purchasing policies.
A model with international reach for "green gold"
Combining environmental certification, satellite technology, and legal reforms has led to the so-called "Michoacán model" being presented in international forums on climate and forests, such as the COP held in Brazil. Michoacán also participates as an observer member in the group Governors' Climate and Forests (GCF), a coalition of subnational governments from Latin America, Europe and the United States working together to protect forests and combat climate change.
This type of space allows Mexican experiences to be contrasted with initiatives from regions such as Catalonia or Californiaas well as with Amazonian states in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. The idea is that strategies for certifying deforestation-free agricultural products—including avocados—can to serve as a reference for other territories that face similar dilemmas: boosting the rural economy without continuing to push the agricultural frontier into the forests.
For European countries involved in legislative debates on the import of products linked to deforestation, the Michoacán experience provides a practical example of how a regional government can combine self-initiative, cooperation with NGOs and market pressure to redirect a highly profitable activity towards stricter environmental standards.
Looking to the future, the public aspiration is that the Michoacán avocado that reaches the tables of the United States, Spain and the rest of Europe can be presented not only as a quality product, but as a fruit whose value chain minimizes its footprint on forests and helps to curb climate change. Between satellite monitoring systems, certifications required by supermarkets, and reforms that target illegal deforestation, Michoacán is trying to demonstrate that the success of "green gold" can go hand in hand with forest conservation, and not at its expense.
