The U.S. consumes nearly half of global avocados, with per capita intake of 4.2 kg in 2022.

U.S. per capita intake rose from 3.2 lb in 2015 to 8.5 lb in 2019, then dipped in 2020.

Mexico is the top producer; 70% grows in Michoacán, and it exported 1.33 million metric tons in 2021–22, mostly to the U.S.

In Mexico, plantations have cleared at least 300 km² of forest, often in high-conservation areas, harming biodiversity.

Avocado farming is highly water-intensive, contributing to water depletion, soil erosion, and chemical contamination.

In Mexico, criminal groups are tied to avocado production and distribution, with violence including politician killings.

Authorities are struggling to stop illegal avocado exports due to strong international demand.

Mexico supplies about 80% of avocados eaten in the U.S., linking U.S. demand to Mexico’s social and environmental issues.

Avocado expansion in Morocco strains water, with agriculture using over 80% of groundwater amid severe drought.

Kenya is Africa’s top and the world’s eighth-largest avocado exporter, shipping 70,000 tons in 2020 worth Sh14 billion.

Social risks include human rights allegations against Kakuzi, prompting retailers such as Tesco to suspend purchases.

Transport emits about 5.4 kg CO2 per kilogram of avocados; two avocados emit nearly 850 g CO2.

Producer regions face land grabbing, displacement, and worker exploitation, causing food insecurity as cropland shifts to export crops.

High demand can make avocados unaffordable for the local communities that grow them.

By 2050, climate change may shrink global avocado-growing areas by 14–41% and Mexico’s by 31%.

Mexico may lose up to 59% of its avocado-growing land by 2050.

Sustainable practices such as conservation tillage and efficient irrigation can mitigate harms.

Certification initiatives such as Rainforest Alliance, Global G.A.P., and Fair Trade are expanding to promote environmental and social standards.

The U.S. consumes nearly half of global avocados, with per capita intake of 4.2 kg in 2022.

Title:

Content: Go to contents
In one day, two politicians were killed in a Mexican avocado.
In one day, two politicians were killed in a Mexican avocado.
Posted February.
29, 2024 07: 26
Updated February.
29, 2024 07: 26
한국어
On the 26th, in the high-income avocado (Avocado • avocado), the world's largest producer of avocado, in Maravatio, Michoacán state, southeast Mexico, two candidates for mayor were shot dead.
Avocado is a healthy super food, especially in developed countries such as the United States.
However, in the local area of Mexico, various criminal forces around the control of circulation is very fierce, resulting in frequent violence.
According to local media reports such as "El Universal", on the afternoon of the 26th, in the center of Malabatio, Miguel Angel Reyes, the candidate for mayor and current doctor of the ruling party Morena (Morena), was shot dead by unknown persons on the way to the car.
On the same night, Armando Pérez Runa, a candidate for mayor of the opposition National Action Party (PAN), was also shot dead.
Authorities speculate that this is a crime committed by forces trying to influence the elections in the run-up to June 2, when the elections, parliamentary elections and local council elections are held simultaneously.
Michoacán is known as a region where various criminal organizations are active, such as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Mexico ’ s most powerful criminal organization.
Conflicts of interest between organizations have been fraught.
Last year, the number of attacks against politicians and government associates (Michoacán) ranked fifth out of all 32 states.
At the same time, in Michoacán, avocados can be harvested four times a year, based on the mild climate, etc.
About 70% of Mexico ’ s avocado production comes from this region.
Most of this is exported to the United States, which accounts for almost half of world demand.
According to statistics from professional statistics website Statista, the per capita avocado consumption in the United States in 2022 is about 4.2 kg, an increase of about four times over 20 years ago.
With the increasing profitability of avocado cultivation, many criminal organizations vie for circulation rights.
Civic Data, a local civic group, fears that attacks by various criminal groups may reach the worst levels in history when local councils are sworn in and elections are held this year.
Illegal cultivation of avocado cultivation is also high. At least 300 square kilometers of forest have been turned into avocado plantations in 2018-2023.
In response, the authorities recently said that they will prevent the export of avocados grown on illegal farmland.
邮箱 ： donga @ donga.com

How has avocado consumption changed in recent years?

What are the countries and regions that import avocados?

U.S. per capita intake rose from 3.2 lb in 2015 to 8.5 lb in 2019, then dipped in 2020.

Title:

Content: This avocado stock may benefit your portfolio
For those looking to add a little “healthy fat ” to their portfolio, Mission Produce seems like a good option, with the company offering a rare target for simply betting on avocados.
Millennials who chew avocado toast may not be able to afford a house, but they might be able to invest in a company that sells avocados on the stock market.
California-based Mission Produce (AVO), which landed on NASDAQ last October, offers a rare target for a simple avocado bet.
The company buys avocados primarily from growers in Mexico, California and Peru for packaging and distribution. Mission also has its own growing operations in Peru, Guatemala and Colombia, with output accounting for about 11% of Mission ’ s 2019 avocados sales.
Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, which can fight "bad cholesterol".
Driven by health trends and the high popularity of Mexican cuisine, per capita avocado consumption in the United States rose from 3.2 pounds in 2015 to 8.5 pounds in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Consumption declined in 2020, possibly because the coronavirus epidemic weakened demand from restaurants.
After hitting a record high in 2019, the...
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How has avocado consumption changed in recent years?

Mexico is the top producer; 70% grows in Michoacán, and it exported 1.33 million metric tons in 2021–22, mostly to the U.S.

Title:

Content: Mexican avocado production to fall in 2021-22 - FreshFruitPortal.com

Mexican avocado production to fall in 2021-22

Mexican avocado production is forecast to fall by eight percent year-on-year in the 2021-22 season, according to a USDA GAIN report.

The country is expected to produce 2.33 million metric tons (MMT) between July 2021 and June 2022, following a record volume year in the previous season.

"Growers state that they are expecting needed tree recovery after record productivity and production (especially in Michoacán) in the MY 2020/21 season," the report said.

"Additionally, insufficient rainfall and high temperatures are likely to reduce production and yields in non-Michoacan producing states."

Mexico is forecasted to export 1.33 MMT in 2021-22, eight percent lower than the previous season, on lower production. Exports to the U.S. are forecasted at 1.04 MMT.

Michoacán, the only state with phytosanitary approvals to export to the U.S. typically exports approximately 85 percent of production.

According to the USDA, profit margins for export to the U.S. are typically more than 50 percent higher than supplies sold to the domestic market. Michoacán also exported 22 percent greater volumes in 2020/21 than the previous MY to non-U.S. markets, on increased production. Canada, Japan, and Spain were the main destinations.

International demand for avocados from Mexico continues to increase, and producers without access to the U.S. market continue to seek international markets with higher profitability than the domestic market. Jalisco exported 26 percent more volume than the previous marketing year in 2020/21, mainly to Japan, Canada, France and Spain.

Planted and harvested areas are forecasted at 227,126 hectares (ha) and 225,910 ha respectively, with a national yield of 10.30 metric tons per hectare (MT/ha).

Harvest reaches peak from October to February, with average supply from March to May, and low season from June to September.

Annual per capita consumption is seven kilograms (approximately 15 pounds) per person. While a staple in Mexican cuisine, avocado consumption has not grown in recent years because of high prices driven by increased international demand.

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What are the countries and regions that produce and export avocados?

In Mexico, plantations have cleared at least 300 km² of forest, often in high-conservation areas, harming biodiversity.

What negative impact has the increased global demand for avocados had on the environment?

Avocado farming is highly water-intensive, contributing to water depletion, soil erosion, and chemical contamination.

Title:

Content: Avocado: Between Environmental Impacts and Global Market Controllers
In the Mexican state of Michoacán, which produces about 80% of the world ’ s avocado, avocado cultivation has depleted local water supplies and caused severe environmental damage, with studies showing that avocado cultivation has led to deforestation, soil erosion and chemical contamination of water sources.
(Getty)
In recent years, the avocado industry has become a staple in many diets around the world, and its popularity has increased greatly due to the multiple health benefits.
However, the demand for this fruit has led to harmful environmental effects and the emergence of a mafia that controls the production and distribution of avocados in some countries.
A Chilean study published recently said that avocado cultivation has caused severe water shortages, as well as in Peru, where large farmers have dominated the avocado market since the 1990s, where cultivation requires huge amounts of water, the production of one kilogram of avocado, consumes about 1,000 liters of water, much more than other crops such as tomatoes or oranges.
According to a report by the Water Footprint Network, the production of one kilogram of tomatoes requires about 300 liters of water, and the high water use of avocado production has led to water scarcity and depletion of aquifers in some areas.
In the Mexican state of Michoacán, which produces about 80% of the world ’ s avocado, avocado cultivation has depleted local water supplies and caused severe environmental damage, with studies showing that avocado cultivation has led to deforestation, soil erosion and chemical contamination of water sources.
According to the report, moving avocados from the production site to the market also has a significant impact on the climate, as avocados are grown mainly in developing countries, and are exported to developed countries such as the United States, Europe and Japan, and the transport of avocados over long distances contributes to greenhouse gas emissions harmful to the environment. Approximately 5.4 kg of carbon dioxide emissions per kg of avocado.
Avocado production has also led to the emergence of a mafia that controls the production and distribution of avocados in some countries, where the avocado mafia operates mainly in Mexico, where it controls the production and export of avocados, and this mafia, according to media reports, consists of criminal organizations that use violence and intimidation to control the production and distribution of avocados, and often extort money from farmers. The avocado mafia uses violence to eliminate competitors and dominate the export market, as studies have shown that these gangs are responsible for deforestation, land grabbing and violence against indigenous communities in Mexico.
According to dozens of studies published in recent years, avocado cultivation also has negative effects on local communities. In some areas, demand for avocados has led to land grabbing, community displacement, labor exploitation, and avocado cultivation in the Mexican state of Michoacán has led to the displacement of indigenous communities and the exploitation of often paid migrant workers. Some studies have shown that the expansion of avocado cultivation has displaced traditional crops, leading to food insecurity and loss of biodiversity.
According to the study, governments around the world can take various measures to mitigate the impact of this agriculture on the climate, and one way is to promote sustainable avocado farming practices that reduce water use and reduce the use of chemicals. Protect the environment, provide financial incentives to farmers and enact laws that will deter illegal and criminal practices in these countries.

What negative impact has the increased global demand for avocados had on the environment?

In Mexico, criminal groups are tied to avocado production and distribution, with violence including politician killings.

What negative impact has the increased global demand for avocados had on the social structure and the economy of the countries that produce them?

increased criminal activity
political tension

Authorities are struggling to stop illegal avocado exports due to strong international demand.

How has avocado consumption changed in recent years?

What negative impact has the increased global demand for avocados had on the social structure and the economy of the countries that produce them?

Mexico supplies about 80% of avocados eaten in the U.S., linking U.S. demand to Mexico’s social and environmental issues.

Title:

Content: For foodies, workers, restaurant owners and investors on both sides of the Rio Grande border, Friday brought a sigh of relief after the United States lifted its temporary ban on imports of Mexican avocados.

The week-long pause — albeit a short one — had fueled concerns in the avocado industry, from the workers who pick the fruit in Mexico to consumers worrying about a potential shortage of a staple in the diets of many Americans.

Mexico supplies about 80 percent of the avocados eaten in the United States. The import ban — stemming from purported threats to a U.S. inspector in the Latin American country — shook a billion-dollar industry. Not only did the commotion showcase the law enforcement issues that growers are frequently subjected to in Mexico, but experts said it underscored the importance of one of the strongest and most successful bilateral trade agreements.

Before being smeared into toast or squashed into guacamole, the avocado’s life begins in an orchard in Michoacán — a western Mexican state over a thousand miles away from the border and the only one allowed to send over avocados to the United States. From a bright-green fruit hanging atop trees to its final stage inside American kitchens, the avocado’s journey from seed to food encompasses different phases of inspections and agreements between the two nations — which suddenly took a hit.

Last week, a plant safety inspector from the U.S. Agriculture Department’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service was inspecting avocados in Michoacán, when he saw some avocados that looked suspiciously like they came from another state, according to USDA and other industry experts. He raised a red flag and soon after, he received a voice-mail threat. Then the USDA announced it was shutting down imports until it could be assured its agents were safe.

The potential of an impending shortage quickly rippled across the industry — one that came shortly before the Super Bowl, one of the avocado’s biggest events. Soon, food establishments and groceries began worrying about keeping up with a demand that has exponentially increased throughout the past decade.

Prices for the fruit deemed “green gold” were already 100 percent higher than the previous year, said David Magaña, a senior analyst for RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness. But the year-long availability of avocados had also increased as well — indicating that a surge in demand can be attributed to different factors, he said.

For one, avocados, with their versatility and healthy fat attributes, became a food trend and Internet obsession. At the same time, the Hispanic population booms across the country — with a larger share of Latinos among Gen Z — have been “one of the major forces pulling the demand for avocados,” the analyst said.

But behind all those green juices and avocado Instagram-worthy photos is the partnership between Mexico and the United States — which has played a crucial role in enabling the market to expand.

In 1995 — a time when “fat-free” food staples ruled the market — the United States did not have much of a taste for avocados. The majority of the consumed fruit was produced in California. Avocado imports that year totaled $14.7 million, of which $700,000 came from Mexico, said David Orden, a professor in the department of agricultural and applied economics at Virginia Tech.

Mexico’s avocados had been banned in the decades before the North American Free Trade Agreement from 1994, Orden said — mostly out of a concern that weevils, scabs and other pests could enter U.S. orchards from imported products. The trade agreement opened the door for the incremental expansion of avocados.

In establishing a system in which U.S. inspectors verify that avocados are pest-free — from when they are growing in orchards to the moment they are packed into sealed trucks — Mexico has been allowed to ship its agricultural product. It started with an approved wintertime stock in Alaska back in the ’90s that has turned into a current year-long supply in all states.

“So that’s all very encouraging and great story about growth and trade agreements, and something the U.S. is trying to do in other countries as well,” Orden said.

The agreement has contributed to economic progress in both sides of the border. Last year, “the two-way food and agricultural trade reached $65 billion, including $2.8 billion in Mexican avocado exports to the United States,” U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said in a statement. In Michoacán, some 300,000 workers depend on the avocado industry — including those doing the picking, the packing and the transporting of the fruit.

But their livelihoods have been threatened by encumbering cartels, who see the booming industry as a golden hen for profit, Orden said.

“It has attracted the attention of these gangs in an area where the cartels are not under control,” he said. “That’s where this story takes on a shadier color. But that’s really a law enforcement issue, and one that affects all of our relationships with Mexico.”

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said in a statement that it had worked with the Mexican government and the Association of Avocado Exporting Producers and Packers of Mexico to enact “additional measures” to safeguard the safety of its inspectors.

While the agency did not disclose what such measures encompass, they served to avert what could have been a costly avocado crisis — one that would had impacted plenty, from those picking the fruit to those biting into their avocado toasts.

“With this we ensure the exportation of fruit and provide economic certainty to farmers and day laborers,” Michoacán Gov. Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla tweeted Friday.

What are the countries and regions that produce and export avocados?

Avocado expansion in Morocco strains water, with agriculture using over 80% of groundwater amid severe drought.

Title:

Content: Monday 2 Shaban 1445 AH - 12 February 2024 |
Programs
Watch our latest episodes online
“The Israeli Avocado. ”
Renewed Debate in Morocco
Controversy has resurfaced in Morocco over crops that experts say drain more water than their revenues after years of drought and the effects of climate change.
An Israeli investment project in Morocco to produce avocados has faced criticism, although authorities have denied that fruit farming has any harm to water, and experts have linked the country's water crisis to management problems rather than specific ones.
In 2021, the Israeli company Mahadrin, which is the largest producer and exporter of citrus fruits in Israel, announced an investment in the cultivation of avocados in Morocco of more than 80 million dirhams ($8.9 million), in partnership with a Moroccan company, to produce 10 tons of avocados annually.
At the time, the debate over the feasibility of investing in a water-draining fruit project flared amid the country ’ s scarce resources, and was renewed recently after the drought continued for the sixth year in a row and warnings about reaching the level of thirst increased.
Moroccan avocado exports have broken sales records for several consecutive seasons.
Total exports have quadrupled in the past six years, making Morocco the ninth largest exporter of this fruit in the world.
The site reports that avocado cultivation in Morocco is currently under threat due to the scarcity of water resources.
However, cultivated areas are expanding, and production is expected to increase by 20 percent year-on-year and reach the new maximum.
According to East Frost, Morocco exported 45,000 tons of avocados worth $139 million between July 2022 and May 2023, and Moroccan exporters were able to increase the number of importing countries from 19 to 25.
But the economic success has been met with internal criticism, with some seeing it as a drain on water and a cause of the country ’ s severe drought crisis.
Abdullah al-Yamalhi, president of the Moroccan Avocado Association, denied in statements that agriculture consumes too much water, saying, “We only take the necessary amount of water for the survival of the crop, which contradicts what is claimed to be a water-intensive crop. ”
Citing a paper entitled “Exposing Myths, ” al-Yamalhi said that growing avocados requires a similar amount of water as other crops, such as apples and pears, stressing that their water consumption is much lower compared to coffee and water-intensive crops,“ which no one criticizes. ”
On Saturday, the Moroccan Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, Mohammed Siddiqui, denied that some water-consuming crops such as avocados and red melons are the reason behind the depletion of the water mattress.
Siddiqui stressed during his stay as a guest on the Grand Format-Le360 program, that “the area of   planting avocado in Morocco does not exceed 10 thousand hectares, has not expanded since the launch of the Green Morocco plan and will not expand, ” in contrast, the cultivation of melons has shrunk and become prohibited in some dry areas such as Zagora.
On the water crisis in the Kingdom, the government official said that the real reason behind the lack of water resources is climate change and irregular rainfall for more than seven years.
Do avocados consume a lot of water?
A report from Fair Observer says production of avocados is water-intensive, about 70 liters per fruit, more than 12 times what it takes to grow tomatoes.
The report refers to what is described as “virtual water. ”
Hypothetical water refers to the amount of water involved in the production of a commodity.
The default water content of avocado is very high.
This means that the source avocado translates into huge amounts of virtual water imported from exporting to importing countries.
According to expert Omaima Khalil al-Fann, avocados are like other water-draining crops, as a kilogram of avocados needs about a thousand liters of water.
The expert pointed out in an interview with Al-Hurra website that the problem lies in the fact that the revenues of such crops are not reflected on the individual because the agricultural sector contributes only 16 percent to the GDP and drains human and water resources because most of it is unstructured and its profit is due to the investor.
Khalil al-Fann believes that the authorities should allow such cultivation in areas that have renewable water, which are coastal areas, where desalination plants can be created, as opposed to allowing such cultivation in dry areas.
As of January, the kingdom has seen a 57 percent drop in rainfall compared to the average year, according to Minister of Equipment and Water Nizar Baraka.
This situation has been exacerbated by the evaporation of water stored in dams, with the average temperature rising by 1.8 percent compared to the average period between 1981 and 2010.
As of February 8, only 23 percent of the dams were filled, compared to 32 percent for the same period last year.
At the risk of water shortages, public baths and car wash shops were closed three days a week in several cities, while gardens and golf courses were banned from being watered with drinking water.
Morocco ’ s water needs are estimated at more than 16 billion cubic meters per year, 87 percent of which is for agricultural consumption, but water resources have not exceeded about 5 million cubic meters per year in the past five years.
Source:
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What negative impact has the increased global demand for avocados had on the environment?

Kenya is Africa’s top and the world’s eighth-largest avocado exporter, shipping 70,000 tons in 2020 worth Sh14 billion.

Title:

Content: Digital strategy launched to improve avocado, banana sale

The Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya and donor aid agencies have launched a digital communication strategy to increase the export capacity of Kenyan-grown avocados and bananas.

FPCK is Kenya's leading trade association dedicated to driving the growth and success of fresh produce companies.

Its membership includes producers, traders, and service providers for fresh horticultural produce. It represents the interests of member companies, which include family-owned, private and publicly traded businesses, as well as local and regional businesses, throughout the fresh produce supply chain.

Okisegere Ojepat, the CEO of FPCK, said the Kenya Avocado and Banana Digital Marketing Campaign Strategy comes at a time when Kenya is ranked first in Africa for avocado export.

"It is important that we expand this pride from continental to global pride by devising strategies and methods to increase our export capabilities around the world," Ojepat said.

He said with the assistance of USAid and the RTI's Kenya Crops and Dairy Marketing Systems (KCDMS) initiative, they launched a digital communication and marketing strategy to benefit Kenya's fresh produce market.

"It will be critical in assisting us in increasing the visibility of the two value chains by utilising digital tools to better connect with the global market, improve information dissemination, change consumer attitudes, and improve access to Kenyan avocados and bananas in the global market," he said.

Kenya was ranked first in Africa and eighth globally in 2020, with an estimated export of 69 metric tonnes of the produce between January and October 2021 generating Sh14.48 billion in revenue.

Demand for these processed products is expected to go up in the coming years, making the market even larger for banana growers in Kenya.

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What are the positive effects of the global demand for avocados on the countries and regions that produce and export them?

Social risks include human rights allegations against Kakuzi, prompting retailers such as Tesco to suspend purchases.

Title:

Content: Companies

UK’s Tesco keeps ban on Kakuzi avocados

Summary

  • Britain's largest supermarket chain, Tesco is yet to reinstate avocado supplies by Kakuzi as it presses for compressive human rights reforms by the Murang’a-based agriculture firm.
  • The British retailer on October 11, 2020 temporarily dropped Kakuzi as its supplier of avocados pending investigations into alleged assault and sexual misconduct by some of its employees.
  • The ban stands nearly a year later, even as sources told the Business Daily that Tesco pressed for deeper reforms to safeguard the rights of workers and the communities living around the Kakuzi farms.

Britain's largest supermarket chain, Tesco is yet to reinstate avocado supplies by Kakuzi #ticker:KUKZ as it presses for compressive human rights reforms by the Murang’a-based agriculture firm.

The British retailer on October 11, 2020 temporarily dropped Kakuzi as its supplier of avocados pending investigations into alleged assault and sexual misconduct by some of its employees.

The ban stands nearly a year later, even as sources told the Business Daily that Tesco pressed for deeper reforms to safeguard the rights of workers and the communities living around the Kakuzi farms.

Through its Kent-based parent Camellia Plc, Kakuzi has been sued over the alleged human rights violations by its employees— which it has denied. The UK-listed company Camellia owns 50.7 percent of Kakuzi.

Law firm Leigh Day said that 79 Kenyans had launched a legal claim in the High Court in London against Camellia for alleged human rights abuses by security guards employed by Kakuzi, its Kenyan subsidiary. The allegations, dating from 2009 to January 2020, include rapes, attacks on local villagers, and a man being beaten to death, Leigh Day said.

The Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed Kakuzi this week pledged to accelerate human rights reforms to comply with international standards.

“We are taking any issues on human rights extremely seriously,” Wilson Odio, the Kakuzi assistant general manager in charge of corporate affairs, told the Business Daily in an interview on Wednesday.

“We are cognizant of the fact that going forward businesses will more and more have to observe human rights in the course of their operations. Kakuzi does not in any way entertain human rights abuse of any sort.”

Dr Odio cited some recently instituted measures to address the claims.

They include the employment of a manager in charge of human rights issues, an audit by a global firm on the impact of its operations on human rights, and the establishment of a dedicated operational-level grievance reporting mechanism that will provide multiple avenues through which our employees and the community can raise issues they would like the company to address.

Kakuzi has also appointed former Attorney-General Githu Muigai to chair the company’s newly created Independent Human Rights Advisory Committee (IHRAC) that will provide technical advice to the board of directors.

“They have already started working. Their work is to advise Kakuzi on human rights issues,” said Dr Odio.

Camellia said earlier it would take remedial measures and undertake governance reforms, and encourage its subsidiaries to do the same with an aim of better handling potential future abuses.

The measures include funding of charcoal kilns and access to firewood, building two social centres for community meetings, and employing predominantly female safety marshalls on Kakuzi’s farm “to give visible reassurance to those using access routes and particularly women.”

Dr Odio said Wednesday, Kakuzi has built new roads to give community residents better access to local amenities and hired some as marshalls.

“We are doing what we have to do ensure that where there are human rights issues, they are addressed,” Dr Odio said.

Camellia and its local subsidiary are trying to win back the confidence of customers in Europe who value ethical corporate behaviour nearly as much as the quality of produce.

The value of avocado supplies by Kakuzi to the UK and other countries in Europe in the half-year period to June this year fell by 52.88 percent to Sh137.2 million from Sh291.2 million in a similar period a year earlier, according to Kakuzi’s latest financial statements.

Resolving of the human rights disputes will be important in Kakuzi’s readmission as a supplier of avocadoes to UK supermarkets, including Tesco that suspended their orders after the alleged abuses were reported by UK’s Sunday Times.

Supermarket chains Sainsbury’s and Lidl also suspended Kakuzi supplies last year in the wake of the reports.

Kakuzi’s net profit for the first six months of this year dropped 28.6 percent to Sh194.6 million compared to Sh272.8 million in the review period, attributed to Covid-19 lockdowns and related restrictions by the company.

The human rights row cost Kakuzi and its parent firm Camellia a total of Sh1.1 billion in legal fees and payments to the victims in Kenya and Malawi.

Tesco operates over 3,961 grocery stores in the UK and Ireland, including franchise stores.

What illegal activities have surfaced in avocado trade in recent years?

What negative impact has the increased global demand for avocados had on the social structure and the economy of the countries that produce them?

Transport emits about 5.4 kg CO2 per kilogram of avocados; two avocados emit nearly 850 g CO2.

Title:

Content: "Superfood" avocado has become one of the most popular fruits in the world due to its dense taste and wide use, but environmental awareness has risen in recent years, and due to the need for water and high carbon footprint during cultivation, some restaurants around the world have resisted avocado, replacing the ingredients used in dishes with other fruits and vegetables.
According to the Guardian and The Hill, growing avocados requires a lot of water. According to DanWatch, an independent Danish investigative media, it takes an average of 320 litres of water to grow one avocados.
In addition, thanks to the popularity of avocados around the world, the international transportation of avocados after harvest has further boosted the carbon footprint, which is estimated by Carbon Footprint Ltd to be nearly 850 grams for two avocados commonly found on supermarket shelves.
The main production area of avocado is in Central and South America, but because it is popular with North American and European consumers, the avocado has to be transported across continents when it grows.
Because the journey is too long, farmers often pick the avocado before it is ripe, and it is necessary to use temperature-controlled containers to transport the avocado, all of which push up the avocado ’ s carbon footprint.
In addition, the price of avocado has been soaring in recent years, according to Business Insider, by 2019, the Hass avocado produced in California has risen to $2.1 (about NT $58).
In recent years, the price of avocado has risen, and the cost of its cultivation and transportation has been inextricably linked, and California's casepear production has been severely affected by drought and wildfires in recent years.
Growing and distributing avocados also requires a lot of labor, and the avocados need to be transported to the ripening center first after picking them first, and then to the sales sites after adding ethylene.
Thomasina Miers, founder of the British Mexican restaurant chain, pointed out that today's strong demand for avocado around the world has caused the price of avocado to soar to the point that indigenous people in the region cannot afford it.
Realizing the environmental impact of avocados, restaurants around the world are beginning to resist them. Myers says his restaurant has replaced the cornflake sauce “avocados ” with beans, green peppers, lime, parsley, etc.
Canadian Mexican chef Aldo Camarena also introduced dipping sauces made with pumpkin seeds and tomatoes, while Irish restaurant owner JP McMahon removed the avocado from the menu, calling it “Mexico ’ s blood diamond. ”
Chefs declare war on a trendy fruit because of its enormous carbon footprint
Source: Why avocados are so expensive
End of the avocado: why chefs are ditching the unsustainable fruit
# Avocado # Superfood # Chef # Boycott # Planting

Producer regions face land grabbing, displacement, and worker exploitation, causing food insecurity as cropland shifts to export crops.

What illegal activities have surfaced in avocado trade in recent years?

What negative impact has the increased global demand for avocados had on the social structure and the economy of the countries that produce them?

labor exploitation
land grabbing
displacement of local communities

What strategies can make global avocado trade more ethical?

High demand can make avocados unaffordable for the local communities that grow them.

How have avocado prices changed in recent years?

By 2050, climate change may shrink global avocado-growing areas by 14–41% and Mexico’s by 31%.

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Content: Lifestyle
Study: Climate change threatens avocados
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Thank you for reading about the study: Climate change threatens avocados and now we start with the details
Activists have called for more support for avocado farmers, with a study released by the international charity Christian Aid (Christian Aid) revealing that climate change is having a “terrible impact ” on fruit.
The highly useful and popular fruit, which is high in fiber and healthy fats, requires a lot of water to grow, making it particularly vulnerable in a hotter, drier world.
A study by FAO showed that the best farming regions in countries such as Burundi, Chile, Peru, Spain, South Africa and Mexico are experiencing declines in productivity due to more volatile conditions.
The study, published yesterday, showed that these regions are expected to decline by between 14% and 41% by 2050, depending on how quickly emissions are reduced in the world.
Mexico, the world ’ s largest producer of avocado, could see a 31% decline in cultivated areas by 2050.
Christian Aid called on governments to commit to urgently reducing emissions, accelerating the energy transition and committing to more climate aid for developing countries.
The charity also called for more financial support to vulnerable farming communities that rely on avocado cultivation for a living, so they can invest in mitigation measures.
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Mexico may lose up to 59% of its avocado-growing land by 2050.

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Content: By 2050, avocados will begin to disappear on Earth: prices for the rest will soar to the skies
Researchers have found that the amount of one of the most popular fruits on the planet could be significantly reduced by the middle of the century.
Related video
Bad news for millennials and other avocado toast aficionados: the world-famous fruit is in jeopardy.
Scientists believe that by the middle of the century in the best regions of the world, the growth of the avocado harvest can be reduced by an incredible 41%, writes the Daily Mail.
Avocado is a superproduct, but is also known for its environmental impact due to the need for plenty of water during growth.
As a result, the cultivation of the fruit was threatened in the climate crisis due to climate change, which hit our planet.
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Scientists predict that by 2050, the amount of the crop could be reduced by more than 40% due to the vulnerability of the fruit in a hotter, drier and more prone to drought world.
This is stated in a new report by the London-based charity Christian Aid.
According to Mariana Paoli, head of global advocacy at Christian Aid, avocado may be a superfood, but its kryptonite is climate change.
This fruit is one of the most popular and useful in the world, but it is not suitable for a hot and drought-prone climate.
Alas, this climate is exactly where we are heading in the climate crisis.
Note that avocado is nutritious, contains useful fats, vitamins and minerals necessary for human health.
The fruit also contains a large amount of fiber and vitamins, and therefore is often considered as the main source of nutrition.
Moreover, today scientists are actively studying avocados for potential activity against diseases, including cancer.
However, scientists recognize that if humanity fails to stop or slow down climate change, the planet will experience periods of prolonged heat.
In this case, it will be difficult for the trees to grow and tie the fruits.
As a result, the world will lose almost half of today ’ s avocado crop.
In addition, some of the world ’ s most productive avocado regions will shrink simply because the land will become too arid.
The study also says that avocados are not the only product that will suffer as a result of climate change.
The authors of the report also argue that products such as coffee and cashews will be in a vulnerable position.
According to the report, by the middle of the century, the area suitable for growing avocados will be reduced by 14-41% worldwide.
At the same time, a key region in the world in Mexico could lose 59% of the land suitable for growing avocados, even if the global average temperature remains below 2 ° C compared to pre-industrial levels.
Previously, Focus wrote that the superfood of tomorrow can be a very poisonous plant.

Sustainable practices such as conservation tillage and efficient irrigation can mitigate harms.

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Role of Energy in sustainable agriculture.pptx

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Energy is needed in all stages of agriculture, from land preparation, water lifting, transport, and processing. Sustainable management of the natural resources of land, water, air, and biodiversity is the mantra for sustainable agriculture.

Energy is needed in all stages of agriculture, from land preparation, water lifting, transport, and processing. Sustainable management of the natural resources of land, water, air, and biodiversity is the mantra for sustainable agriculture.

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Role of Energy in sustainable agriculture.pptx

  1. 1. Energy Management in Sustainable Agriculture Presented by: Submitted to : Anusha KR Dr. Kulbir Singh L-2021-H-88-D Department of Vegetable Science
  2. 2. •Energy is constantly flowing through the ecosystem. • It enters as solar energy and it is converted by plants into potential energy, which is stored in the chemical bonds of organic molecules, or biomass •Whenever this potential energy is harvested by organisms to do work (e.g. grow, move, reproduce), much of it is transformed into heat energy that is no longer available for further work or transformation - it is lost from the ecosystem.
  3. 3. Energy and Agriculture • Energy is needed in all stages of agriculture, from land preparation, water lifting, transport, and processing. • Agriculture is an energy-conversion process that transforms solar energy into food through photosynthesis. • Almost 99% of the energy for primary plant growth and productivity is derived from the sun. • Sustainable management of the natural resources of land, water, air, and biodiversity is the mantra for sustainable agriculture. • It is impossible to conceive of an effective food production system, processing, and distribution without adequate energy inputs.
  4. 4. • The three-fold increase in global agricultural productivity during the last half a century has been possible because of a parallel and exponential increase in the use of chemical fertilizers, irrigation, and pest control measures. • This is also the reason that the term “green revolution” itself is a euphemism (Nair 2013). • It is more appropriate to call it an “industrial type agriculture,” rather than green revolution, with all the concomitant adverse fallout on the environment (Nair 2013; 2014).
  5. 5. Pattern in Energy Use • Agricultural production by itself accounts for only a relatively small proportion of the total energy used in industrial and developing countries. 4–8% in Developing countries 30–35% in Developed countries Production and distribution Processing Transport Trade
  6. 6. Energy use in global agriculture follows two extremes as follows: 1. The high external input and highly mechanized factory model of agriculture of the advanced countries are 50 times as energy intensive as compared to traditional agriculture. 2. The very low or nil external input agriculture which is a part of the subsistence agriculture prevalent in many of the stressed ecosystems of the tropics depends mostly on solar energy-drive natural processes and on human and animal draft power. • Between these two highly contrasting energy use patterns, depicted above, fall the green revolution technologies, especially in developing countries, which use moderate fertilizer and pest control inputs, though the high-end farmers use unbridled quantities of fertilizers and pesticides, and, farm mechanization is of low intensity, except on large farms.
  7. 7. Energy intensification in agriculture
  8. 8. Advantages • Energizing the food production chain has been an essential feature of agricultural development and a prime factor to achieve food security. • A direct relationship exists between energy consumption and agricultural yield. • Traditional agricultural systems depend largely on the metabolic (endosomatic) energy of humans and animals and solar energy, whereas the energy requirements of modern agriculture are almost completely met from fossil fuels, mostly petroleum and to some extent diesel. • Energy transformed outside the body (exosomatic, for example, burning gasoline in a tractor) results in much higher productivity per unit of labor. • Thus, a gallon of gasoline can be transformed into the equivalent of 3 weeks of human labor (Giampietro and Pimental 1994). • The efficiency of energy conversion in humans is only 25%, and in a fit person the body can use up energy up to 250 to 300 W.
  9. 9. • The ratio of exosomatic and endosomatic energy is 4:1 in traditional agriculture, whereas it is almost 40:1 for modern agriculture. • This results in completely lower land and labor productivity in traditional agriculture and, consequently, in lower socioeconomic standards in terms of income, health, education, services, and so on. • From the early twentieth century, the global population grew at an accelerating pace, which made output from low- energy input traditional agriculture inadequate to meet the growing need for food. • Energy intensification of agriculture started actively in the post-II World War period as a consequence of the impact of industrialization and accelerated economic growth. • Heavy injections of fossil energy, in the form of chemicals and machine power, in combination with high-yielding crop varieties, increased the productivity of land and labor enormously in comparison to primitive agriculture. • This resulted in increasing income and standards of living for the farmer and in more labor becoming available for other economic sectors, especially in advanced countries.
  10. 10. Disadvantages • Large scale energy infusion into modern agriculture for land preparation and irrigation and very high fertilizer inputs, often without adequate thought to the efficiency of their use, have created a trade-off between productivity on the one hand and environmental quality, resource conservation, and economic viability on the other. • Excessive use of external inputs has resulted in multiple adverse impacts, including enormous degradation of soil in the form of erosion, loss of organic matter and fertility, and salinization, environmental pollution from unbridled use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, entering surface and ground water to become a threat to human and animal health, and, damage to and extinction of aquatic species as a result of the presence of toxic chemicals in runoff. • The Punjab State in India, known as the “cradle” of green revolution epitomizes all these problems (Nair 2013).
  11. 11. • Intensive farming techniques impact the pattern of energy flows in ecosystems. • In general, they reduce the capacity of the ecosystem to use solar energy for evapotranspiration, gross primary production, recycling of nutrients, and natural pest control, leading to a decrease in the efficiency of the use of inputs. • This renders the soil a biologically dead physico-chemical medium incapable of sustaining productivity in the long run, as is happening in many intensively cultivated systems, such as rice-wheat systems of South Asia, Punjab State in India, being a classic example in the former category of nations (Ladha et al 2003) • Among the most adverse impacts of high energy agricultural systems, is their high direct and indirect share of contribution to global warming, due to emission of gaseous emission, the nitrous oxide being the most important. • Along with deforestation, they account for about 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, through the burning of fossil fuel manufactured fertilizers and pesticides, and also through inefficient use of nitrogenous fertilizers, which enhances nitrous oxide concentrations in the atmosphere. • Thus, energy use in high external input agriculture has become ecologically, economically, and environmentally, unsustainable.
  12. 12. Impact of Low Energy Use in Agriculture
  13. 13. • Inadequate external energy infusion, as in the low-input traditional agricultural systems of the developing countries, results in low land and labor productivity and a lack of food security. • Agricultural practices based on animal and human power with inadequate use of fertilizers and pesticides and lack of storage, preservation, and transportation facilities cannot meet the needs of the growing population. • Low external energy input agriculture is, without doubt, environmentally friendly. • Natural ecological processes are certainly superior to external inputs in terms of crop production because they are regenerating, nonpolluting, practically free, and resource-conserving. • However, they are not invariably beneficial at the societal level. • In the low input primitive systems of production, the ratio of exosomatic to endosomatic energy is low. When a society has a very low exosomatic/endosomatic energy ratio and uses labor-intensive techniques to save capital and fossil energy, its per capita labor and land output remains low, resulting in a lower standard of living, health, and education (Giampietro and Pimental 1994)
  14. 14. • Ecological processes cannot substitute completely external inputs in modern crop production because they have their own pattern and pace of mass and energy flow and distribution. • Although excellent sources of plant nutrients are present in organic form, such as crop residues and animal and poultry excreta, their utilization may be constrained by their rate of mineralization and lack of synchrony with plant growth needs.
  15. 15. Sustainable Energy Management in High-Input Agriculture
  16. 16. • Following the principles of thermodynamics, a key indicator of sustainability is the ratio of energy equivalents of all of the inputs and outputs (Andiscott 1995). • The higher this ratio, the more sustainable the system.
  17. 17. • The most basic way to improve the sustainability of modern agriculture is to decrease both the direct and embodied external energy component by increasing their efficiency of use. • “The Nutrient Buffer Power Concept,” while emphasizing the usefulness of chemical fertilizers, aims at moderation, enhancing the efficiency of nutrient use, while at the same time containing environmental pollution, and, as a bonus, enhancing economy of scale (Nair 2004). • Maintaining high productivity with an acceptable impact on resource, environment, and economics is the key to sustainability. • The use of non-polluting alternative sources of energy is also conducive to improving sustainability. • Conservation tillage, integrated pest management, integrated plant nutrient supply, crop rotation, micro irrigation techniques, and precision farming belong to this category.
  18. 18. Conservation tillage • Conservation tillage practices were initially introduced to reduce the costs of mechanization, but, • have turned out to offer several ecological and economic benefits, such as low soil erosion, reduced runoff, more natural pest control, greater water storage and infiltration, increased cropping intensity, and economy of scale in input use. • Conservation tillage has become very popular where farms are large.
  19. 19. Water management • Managing water use more efficiently, using drip and sprinkler irrigation, and using mulch to improve water storage and reduce evapotranspiration, are simple ways to improve the productivity of water • These practices not only result in energy conservation, but also attract other bonuses such as • lower nutrient loss, • higher efficiency of input use, and • freedom from water logging and
  20. 20. • On average, about 25% of the electrical energy used for irrigation in developing countries being wasted due to poor pump and motor efficiency. • Properly designed systems promote correct soil moisture levels, leading to crop stress, reduced yields, wasted water, runoff, soil erosion, and many other problems. • Energy (and money) can be saved in many ways: 1. Efficiency irrigation pumps, including variable speed pump motors; 2. Frequent management/maintenance of irrigation systems; 3. Proper pump-sizing; and 4. Upgrade to more efficient irrigation system, e.g. from wheel lines to pivot or linear sprinkler systems.
  21. 21. Pest management • Integrated pest management combines several virtues, including • cost reduction, • environmental and human safety, • prevention of pesticide resistance and pest resurgence, • with a favorable energy balance.
  22. 22. Cropping system • Biodiversity enhancement through • Polyculture, as opposed to the monoculture system (rice-wheat continuous cropping during the green revolution phase in Punjab State, India), • Crop rotation, • Mixed cropping, and • Strip cropping • Has been shown to have a variety of positive effects, such as conservation, the efficiency of use of nutrients, and water, erosion control, biological pest and disease control, and improvement in soil quality
  23. 23. Farm vehicles • The biggest opportunities for energy savings from farm vehicles can be found in tillage systems and tractor fuel efficiency. • Tractor fuel efficiency can be as simple as proper tire inflation, regular vehicle maintenance, and reduced idling. • Such measures can not only save fuel but prolong the life of tractor
  24. 24. Greenhouse agriculture • Typical annual greenhouse energy usage is 75% for heating, 15% for electricity and 10% for vehicles. • Producers who put resources where the greatest savings can be realized have clear opportunities for savings. • Energy conservation solutions range from common-sense to extremely efficient heating, cooling and watering systems: • Reduce Air Leaks by using door closers, • weather stripping (doors, vents, fan openings) and • lubricating louvers (a partially open louver may allow several air changes per hour). • Poly with an infrared inhibitor on the inner layer can give 15% energy savings. • Thermal Blankets can achieve 20%-50% energy savings. • Foundation and Sidewall Insulation.
  25. 25. Sustainable Energy Management in Low–Input Systems
  26. 26. • Access to appropriate energy can enhance productivity and food security, create livelihood opportunities, and reduce poverty (WEC/ FAO 1999). • Hopes to improve the lives of the rural peasants and landless poor of developing countries depend largely on some level of energy infusion into their cultivation processes and into their daily lives. • The realization of minimum standards of living is possible only through proper energy management (FAO 1996b).
  27. 27. • The Rio Earth Summit (UNCED 1992) highlighted the importance of efficiently managing fossil energy and making use of other forms of renewable energy such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass energy in sustainable development. • The gist of the recommendations made with respect to agriculture is the following: 1. The process of transition to environmentally sound energy resources using structured and diversified alternative and renewable energy sources should be initiated in rural communities 2. Energy inputs should be increased to rural households and for agro industrial needs 3. Rural programs for energy self-reliance in the sustainable development of renewable energy sources should be implemented
  28. 28. Biomass energy • Biomass energy from agricultural by-products can be used in small-scale industries in rural areas, such as • sugar, rubber, and coconut processing, rice par boiling, fish and meat drying, brick making, lime kilns infusions of energy from biomass, such as straw for mushroom culture and cattle waste in pisciculture, recycling of biowastes such as banana leaves, and fodder banks • are innovative means of livelihood creation, as seen in the Biovillage model in Pondicherry (Union territory, India) as detailed by MSSRF (2000), ceramics, and pottery.
  29. 29. Combined heat-power generation technologies • Combined heat-power generation technologies have proved very effective in the sugarcane industry, where the byproduct bagasse is used as biomass fuel. • Recently an Australian Company “Zero Waste Ltd” has come forward with a unique technology where bagasse (by product of sugarcane crushing) is converted into an organic material, commercially marketed, now as “Geogreen” in India, with a collaboration of a company, Rallis India Ltd. (A Tata Group Company). • This material has proved to be extremely successful and useful in Indian soils highly depleted of native carbon by the onslaught of the green revolution, which led to severe carbon depletion in soil, leading to yield depression and degradation of soil. • These technologies are cost-effective and can facilitate decentralized rural industrialization.
  30. 30. • Ever since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 1996) confirmed that global warming is due to the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, renewed efforts have been underway to replace fossil fuel with other clean or less polluting energy sources such as solar energy, hydrogen biomass, and natural gas. • Solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy, and hydro and geothermal tidal energies are being evolved as potential forms of renewable energy. • They are non-polluting, non-emission sources and are suitable for small to medium scale operations, especially in rural and remote areas. The growth of different energy types is depicted in the following table
  31. 31. Thank you

Editor's Notes

  •  mainly through the reduction in the intensity of tillage, and retention of plant residues.

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What strategies can make global avocado trade more ethical?

Certification initiatives such as Rainforest Alliance, Global G.A.P., and Fair Trade are expanding to promote environmental and social standards.

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Content: Former White House Chef Says Coffee Will Be 'Quite Scarce' in the Near Future

And there's plenty of science to back up his claims.

Former White House chef Sam Kass is sounding the alarm on the future of coffee.

Earlier this week, the former first chef (who also acted as the White House's first-ever senior adviser on nutrition) shared in an interview with People, he's turning his attention to sustainable agriculture, as he's already worried about the sustainbility of some of the world's most beloved crops.

"A number of foods that we hold very dear to our hearts and largely take for granted are under a real threat," Kass said. "And you're seeing in the future, we're on track for a lot of those to become quite scarce and some really to be largely unavailable to most people and others just significantly increased in cost."

He specifically noted that products like wine, chocolate, shellfish, and rice are all in danger, as well as coffee, a drink the world consumes an estimated two billion cups of every single day. And Kass' comments come with merit, at least according to several recent studies.

In January 2022, researchers from the Institute of Natural Resource Sciences at Zurich University of Applied Sciences published a report evaluating the impact of climate change on coffee, cashew, and avocado in the scientific journal Plos One. The research team concluded, "Coffee proved to be most vulnerable to climate change with negative impacts dominating all growing regions, primarily due to increasing temperatures."

The team added that climate change adaptation would be necessary in most major producing regions for all three crops, and in the case of coffee, "replacement of arabica with robusta coffee in certain regions" will likely be necessary. However, even with this mitigation, the team added, "policies and strategies are required to ensure that shifts in production locations will not lead to negative environmental impacts such as deforestation, loss of biodiversity, or ecosystem services."

These changes, the team added, will likely take place within the next three decades, noting, "The main coffee-producing countries investigated (Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Colombia) are all seriously affected by climate change with a strong decline in suitable areas."

This study echoes two others highlighted on Science.org in 2019, which hypothesized that at least 60% of all wild coffee species are threatened with extinction, potentially within the next decade, many of which go far beyond satisfying your caffeine craving in the morning.

"Most consumers, and even many coffee sector representatives, are unaware that there are more than two or three coffee species. There are 124 coffee species known to science, occurring naturally in tropical Africa, the Indian Ocean islands (Madagascar, Comoros Islands, and Mascarene Islands), Asia, and Australasia," the authors of one of the studies wrote in their published work in Science Advances. "These species have useful traits for coffee development, such as climatic tolerance, and especially drought tolerance, pest and disease resistance, low or zero caffeine content, and sensory (taste) amelioration."

And in August, Bloomberg reported that Arabica farmers in Brazil, which represents the world's top exporter, are yet again seeing massive losses in its coffee crop, which "already had setbacks due to freakish weather, bringing lower yields that threaten to extend a global supply crunch."

Because of the shortage, Guilherme Morya, senior economic analyst for Rabobank, shared with the Financial Review, "Global prices will continue to go up, and the uncertainty on Brazilian supply is one of the main reasons."

What, then, can the general consumer do? For starters, try drinking a more sustainable cup of coffee, which begins with picking fair-trade-certified coffee products. These products must meet fair trade standards, "ensuring safe working environments and improved conditions, wages, working hours, benefits, and the elimination of forced labor and poverty," Fair Trade Certified explained on its website. "When you see a product with the Fair Trade Certified label, you can be sure it meets rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards." Also, look into a certified B-corp coffee company that must meet similar rigid social and environmental standards.

And the next step is to stay on top of the work of organizations like World Coffee Research, which works to leverage "private sector support to drive public funding to our national partners." Those partners are researching things like breeding innovation to cultivate more resilient plants and make those plants more readily available to farmers worldwide. And, if you really want to put your money where your mouth is, you can also donate to places like the U.C. Davis' Coffee Center, which goes to support its research on agricultural engineering, plant science, sustainability, and more. That way, we can all hopefully savor a few more cups of coffee in the generations to come.

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What strategies can make global avocado trade more ethical?