Avocado
Superfood with a large water footprint
General information
The avocado (lat. Persea americana; sp. aguacate) belongs to the laurel family and is, from a botanical point of view, a single-seeded berry. Both in the cosmetics industry and in nutrition, the hype, especially among the younger generation, cannot be overlooked. The reason for the appeal of avocados is that they are rich in vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids. Its unique taste and versatility make it one of a kind. However, the consumption of the avocado, which is often transported from America to Europe and consumes a lot of water, is also heavily criticized.
Nowadays, the Hass avocado dominates the market. This variety was bred by Rudolph Hass in the 1920s. He thought the breeding had failed because, in contrast to the green skin of the Fuerte variety, which was widespread at the time, it had a darker skin. His son finally convinced him to try the fruit, which won him over with its creamy texture and nutty flavor, so he patented the Hass avocado in 1935.
Growing regions
Avocados are now grown in many areas around the world. The map highlights all countries that produced more than 80,000 tons of avocados in 2021 according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Over 70% of the world’s avocados come from America and 40% from Mexico, where the avocado originated.
Other important growing countries including Colombia, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Indonesia. Avocados are also grown in the Mediterranean region, with Spain being the only European country that also exports them. The avocados in European supermarkets often come from Peru, South Africa and Kenya in summer and from Mexico, Chile, Israel and Spain in winter.
In 1961, the global production of avocados was 716,000 tons of avocados and has risen to 8,600,000 tons in 2021. Production has increased since 1997 with the first imports as a result of the NAFTA free trade agreement between the USA, Canada and Mexico. Avocado production in Mexico tripled between 1997 and 2021. This is significant as the USA are the destination for more than 75% of Mexican exports. Since April 2020, there has been a trade agreement between the EU and Mexico that allows duty-free imports, resulting in an increased supply of Mexican avocados on the European market.
Cultivation and harvest
The avocado plant is very sensitive to cold and humidity, which is why it should only be grown in regions without frost and without dry and hot winds. It grows best at an average annual temperature of 18 to 26 °C and requires an average rainfall of around 1,200 to 1,800 mm. As the avocado is often grown in dry areas and therefore cannot benefit from optimal rainfall, it must be artificially irrigated. The plant particularly benefits from areas that are covered with grass, trees or shrubs. However, avocados are mainly grown in monocultures for the export industry.
Avocado trees grow up to 30 meters high, but the trees on plantations usually only reach a size of up to eight meters. They can bear up to 138 kg of fruit after seven years. Each tree can produce up to one million flowers, but only 0.1% of these develop into fruit.
Products
Probably the best-known product that can be made from avocados is guacamole, a Mexican dip. However, the avocado can be used in many ways, not just as a food. There are numerous oils and various cosmetics on the market that contain avocado ingredients. According to various beauty forums, avocado oil is said to have a nourishing effect on dry skin and hair. Other cosmetic products, such as face masks and lip care products, have been developed to harness this power.
Consumption
The reason for the sharp rise in production is the growing popularity and associated intensive consumption that goes along with it in Europe, North America and parts of Asia. In the USA, it is impossible to imagine the Superbowl, a US sporting event, without avocados. Up to 100,000 tons of avocados are consumed on the day of the event. Avocados have become part of several lifestyle trends thanks to advertising that highlights their health benefits. On average, between one and 3.5 kg of avocados are consumed per capita in the USA and Europe each year. The market is expected to continue to grow steadily over the next few years.
Challenges
One challenge is posed by climate change, bringing higher maximum temperatures. As a result the fruits ripen faster, which means they have to be harvested earlier. As temperatures rise, the already high water consumption increases further, making it essential to expand and improve irrigation systems.
In some regions, temperatures rise so significantly that plant growth and fruit are damaged by the heat forcing the cessation of avocado cultivation. One solution to this is relocating the cultivation areas to regions that were previously too cool for cultivation but have sufficient water storage capacity.
Further challenges arise from the socio-economic consequences of avocado cultivation. On the one hand, the growth of the market and the increase in the world market price creates new jobs and the possibility of profit. On the other hand, this leads to increased violence and racketeering by drug cartels. In addition, the livelihood-securing cultivation areas of local communities are being relocated to less fertile areas to make room for the export-oriented avocado plantations. This jeopardizes the food security of the population.
Certification
Labels are intended to provide guidance to consumers who value sustainable production. Even when consciously consuming avocados, one can refer to labels and certificates. Based on personal experience, are available in stores with Fairtrade or organic labels, which ensure certain social and ecological minimum standards. However, most avocados that can be found in German supermarkets are not certified.
Sustainability
The consumption of avocados should be accompanied by a certain level of awareness. Central to this are the social and ecological consequences of upscaling production. The high water consumption, associated crime and the usually long transportation route are reasons to view consumption rather critically. However, avocados represent a significant part of the economy in places like the Mexican state of Michoaćan and are immensely important to the local farmers. Therefore, as with many things, the decision cannot be made across the board, but should be weighed up individually. Labels can provide valuable support in this decision-making process.