William Atkins
Friday, 06 February 2009 20:54
Science -
Climate
Page 1 of 4
A Mexican-U.S. study shows that legally tying a product such as Tequila to its region of origin can have dire consequences for the sustainability of that area’s local materials and traditions, in this case the blue agave plant. It’s a real hangover for this area.
The study found that the production of Tequila in Mexico is harmful to its local environment. Specifically, rural farmers in Mexico that plant and harvest the blue agave plant (the basic produce for making Tequila) are hurting financially and the environment is suffering as well because of the name Tequila being tied to the region, along with the associated government regulations.
The article “
Geographical indications, terroir, and socioeconomic and ecological sustainability: The case of tequila” was published in the January 2009 issue (doi: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2008.07.003) of the
Journal of Rural Studies. It has been available online since October 1, 2008.
The authors—Sarah Bowen (Department of Sociology and Anthropoloy,
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, United States) and Ana Valenzuela Zapata (Department of Business, University of Guadalajara, Ocotlán, Mexico)—state in the abstract to this paper:
“… we use the case of tequila to examine the potential for geographical indications (GIs) to contribute to socioeconomic and environmental sustainability.”
They explained that GIs are product names that are restricted to the places that originally produced them, such products as Champagne, Roquefort, and Tequila.
For instance, the word Champagne can only appear on bottles of sparkling white wine that are produced in the Champagne wine region of northeast France.
Likewise, Roquefort is a blue cheese from the milk of sheep that is produced in the southern portion of France. Only cheeses aged in the natural Combalou caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon can be called Roquefort cheese.
In addition, the word
Tequila is an alcoholic drink that comes from the blue agave (cactus-like) plant in the area surrounding Tequila, Mexico, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) northwest of Guadalajara.
Page two continues with the story as to why tying the word Tequila to this Mexian locality is hurting its traditions and environment.
