Severe drought threatens barley production in Mexico, jeopardizing the brewing industry

Barley production in Mexico is facing serious challenges due to drought caused by climate change, which could have a negative impact on the national brewing industry. Mexico is one of the leading barley exporters and efforts are underway to adopt regenerative cultivation methods to withstand extreme weather conditions.

The Altiplano, the main barley producing region supplying the brewing industry, produces an average of 481,000 tons of barley per year, representing 93% of the country’s total production. However, changes in rainfall in recent years have reduced yields, from 769 mm in 2021 to 589 mm in 2023. In the current agricultural cycle, of the 102,000 ha planted to barley, 4,200 ha were affected by drought and yields were only 1.78 t/ha, below the required break-even level of 2.7 t/ha.

The brewing industry, which accounts for 1.6% of Mexico’s GDP and supports more than 700,000 jobs, is being jeopardized. The recent Cultivando un México Mejor (Growing a Better Mexico) initiative by CIMMYT and Heineken aims to introduce new technologies and sustainable agricultural practices, which has shown positive results such as water savings and increased yields. Experts emphasize the importance of adapting and training farmers in new methods to cope with the effects of climate change.

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Tags: drought, Mexico, barley