The 4th National and 2nd International Agave-Mezcal Congress to Be Held in Oaxaca
From October 28 to 30, 2026, the 4th National and 2nd International Agave-Mezcal Congress will take place under the theme “Distilling Community, Restoring Our Land” at the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Integral Regional Development (CIIDIR), Oaxaca Unit, of the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN).
The organizers announced that the event aims to bring together researchers, producers, academics, students, business leaders, and organizations involved in the agave and mezcal production chain to exchange knowledge, experiences, and proposals that contribute to strengthening one of Mexico’s most representative industries.
As part of the academic program, keynote lectures will be delivered by national and international specialists covering topics related to scientific research, technological innovation, production, agave conservation, and the main challenges currently facing the mezcal industry.
The congress will also feature theoretical and practical workshops focused on areas such as business management, marketing, certification, and compliance with current regulations, including Official Mexican Standard NOM-070-SCFI-2016, which establishes the specifications for the production, packaging, and commercialization of mezcal.
The organizers emphasized that Mexico is the center of origin and diversification of the Agave genus, recognized for its extraordinary biodiversity and the cultural, economic, and environmental importance of its use. In addition to serving as the raw material for iconic beverages such as mezcal, tequila, bacanora, sotol, and raicilla, agave is also used to produce syrups, fructans, fibers, animal feed, biofuels, and various artisanal and forestry products.
In Oaxaca, the mezcal industry represents one of the state’s most significant economic activities, generating approximately 265,000 direct and indirect jobs each year. However, sustained growth in domestic and international demand has increased pressure on various agave species, particularly wild agaves, leading to indiscriminate harvesting and placing endemic species at risk.
The expansion of monoculture plantations on forested slopes has also caused environmental impacts, including biodiversity loss, soil erosion, and ecosystem degradation. Specialists therefore consider it essential to promote sustainable production models that preserve natural resources while supporting the economic development of mezcal-producing communities.
In this context, CIIDIR Oaxaca, which organized the three previous National Agave and Mezcal Congresses in 2017, 2019, and the First International Congress in 2023, will once again host the event, seeking to establish it as a leading forum for the scientific, technological, and social analysis of the agave production chain.
Under the theme “Distilling Community, Restoring Our Land,” the congress will promote the dissemination of research conducted by public and private institutions, as well as the exchange of traditional and practical knowledge from local communities, mezcal masters, producers, and other participants involved in the cultivation, management, processing, and commercialization of agave and its derivatives. The goal is to strengthen the conservation, responsible use, and sustainable management of this valuable biocultural resource of Mexico.
Source: diariomarca
