The ARS program is designed for all small-scale agave producers who meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the recent call issued by the National Chamber of the Tequila Industry. Interested producers can register at any Tequila Regulatory Council office.
Some of the benefits of ARS are the recognition of traditional agave growers, promoting contract farming and the direct link between farmers and tequileros for the purchase of agave without intermediaries.
Zapopan, Jalisco, October 21, 2024.- The Socially Responsible Agave Certification (ARS) program aims to recognize traditional agave farmers, promote contract farming, and facilitate direct linkages between farmers and tequila producers, enabling the direct purchase of agave without intermediaries. This program, launched recently by the National Chamber of the Tequila Industry (CNIT) and administered by the Tequila Regulatory Council A.C. (CRT), is open to all eligible agave producers.
“The CRT emphasizes that the Socially Responsible Agave Certification is the first of several initiatives aimed at benefiting the primary sector of the Agave Tequila Productive Chain. We are prioritizing traditional agave producers who meet all the eligibility criteria outlined in the call. Starting today, these producers can register at our Zapopan office or any of our regional offices at no cost. This program aligns with the Direct Marketing Agreements program promoted by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,” said Alexis Álvarez, Head of Agricultural Certification at the CRT.
The eligibility criteria outlined in the CNIT’s call include:
- Being a producer of Agave tequilana Weber blue variety, grown within the territory protected by the Appellation of Origin Tequila.
- Have 2017 and previous agave plantations registered in the CRT and demonstrate that they did not cause deforestation with the ARA Compatibility Report.
- Having initiated agave producer registration between 1994 and 2017.
- Have a maximum inventory of 50,000 agave plants.
- Comply with all tax obligations: be registered with the Tax Administration System (SAT) of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP) and maintain a positive tax compliance status.
Interested agave producers must visit a CRT office with their official identification, Tax Status Certificate, and, if applicable (for producers in Jalisco or Guanajuato), their ARA Compatibility Report. CRT.
“The Socially Responsible Agave Certification program is open to all traditional producers within the Tequila Appellation of Origin (comprising 181 municipalities), regardless of their membership in any agave grower association. Upon registering for the ARS program, producers sign a consent form authorizing the upload of their data (name, property location, year of plantation, number of plants, and telephone number) to a platform designed to facilitate direct communication between agave growers and tequila producers. This platform will connect agave supply with industry demand,” explained Alexis Álvarez of the CRT.
Registered agave growers and tequila producers will receive unique usernames and passwords to access the platform. Agave growers can upload information about their plantations, while tequila producers can review offers, select those that best meet their production needs, and directly contact the relevant growers.
The CRT is currently negotiating with the University of Guadalajara and the SAT to establish support modules for agave farmers, providing them with the information and guidance they need to register and maintain tax compliance.
Improving the coordination and planning of agave plantations for the production of Tequila, Mexico’s first Appellation of Origin, is the task of all the sectors involved.
