Agave is a great crop for California as we face a future of extreme drought and lack of water. Extended droughts and high variability in annual rainfall are a result of climate change. California farms are fallowing up to 40% of their land, negatively impacting climate vulnerable, agricultural communities. Agave, a drought-tolerant and low-water crop, has the potential to mitigate the economic consequences of climate change on agricultural communities.
Agave has been a commercially successful crop with low water inputs in other regions of the world. Economically growing agave across CA would address priorities for the agriculture industry, especially climate vulnerable farming communities in the Central Valley. A lack of quantitative understanding of agave’s foundational agronomy, plant pathology, genetic diversity, and insect pest management prevents CA growers, however, from making confident investments in this vital, drought tolerant crop. An opportunity exists to begin to understand initial growth rates as well as use existing plantings to understand the impact of irrigation on growth at various growth stages. This initial applied research, especially when coupled with future basic research, will enable California farms to be competitive in ways that research and outreach has benefited wine grapes, tomatoes and tree crops.
A drought-tolerant and low-water crop such as agave can expand economic opportunities for California by building climate resilience. Proof of concept agave farming data exists that demonstrates economically viable yields and extremely low water usage (less than one-tenth used for tree crops). An opportunity exists, therefore, for California growers and their communities, who are impacted by climate change driven volatility in available irrigation water, to maintain or grow local jobs through adaptation of their crop portfolio.