Agave: A Drought-Proof Crop

THURSDAY, JUNE 11

PROGRAM #11168 11:00 AM PT 

Agave: A Drought-Proof Crop. 

California’s youngest community college has launched an innovative agricultural project in an arid stretch of the Central Valley, planting thousands of agave plants with plans to transform the area into a mezcal and tequila distillery. The Agave Innovation Center promotes sustainable farming practices — the plant uses far less water than traditional crops — while also supporting research and workforce training. Can agave transform Central Valley agriculture? What makes it so innovative? And how does the project plan to involve local communities?

Guests: Dr. Angel Reyna, President, Madera Community College, Madera, CA; Dr. Yessica V. Fernandez Galicia, Research Collaborator and Expert in Agave Production in California, Water Management Lab, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA; Myriam Martinez, Chef, Owner and Founder, La Jacka, Fresno, CA; Cándido Rodríguez, mezcal expert — an authority on the culture, production and tasting of mezcal, Fresno, California.

Photo: State Center Community College District

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