California Explores Agave as Heat- and Drought-Tolerant Alternative Crop

As part of its week-long focus on food and climate change, National Public Radio reported on California agriculture’s interest in agave as an alternative crop. Unlike many other crops, agave can grow with just three inches of water each year, and it is tolerant of high heat. More producers are planting agave in California, and researchers are testing which varieties perform best in California’s climate and soils. A California Agave Council formed in 2022 to support growers’ efforts. Proponents see agave not necessarily as a wholesale replacement for other crops, but as an alternative option growers may want to consider in certain locations and conditions. The crop requires patience, though, with around seven years of growth before harvest.