Can agave help solve California’s agricultural dilemma? Some farmers are betting big

"A small but growing group of farmers and distillers have been planting the seeds of what they hope will be a rich California market for agave spirits and other products — and an adaptive response to climate change and drought."

"Ron Runnebaum, an associate professor at UC Davis’ Department of Viticulture and Enology, has been working with [Stuart] Woolf, [Craig] Reynolds and others to research agave’s commercial use in California, which has mostly been uncharted.

Although its use for spirits may represent the biggest financial opportunity, Runnebaum noted the plants' potential as a source of biofuel. And fibers from agave leaves have a variety of uses..."

Full article:  https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2024-09-17/agave-growing-central-valley-essential-california