酪梨不綠漂，要真綠！

墨西哥酪梨（avocado）產業近日做出重大承諾：自 2026 年起，將全面杜絕與毀林相關的酪梨出口。此舉不僅回應國際輿論壓力，也意在確保這項價值數十億美元的明星農產品，能在永續與盈利之間找到平衡點。

Mexico’s avocado industry has made a landmark pledge: beginning in 2026, all avocado exports will be deforestation-free. The commitment aims to balance mounting international scrutiny with the need to safeguard one of Mexico’s most lucrative agricultural exports, valued at billions of dollars annually.

根據美國農業部（USDA）數據，美國是墨西哥酪梨的最大買家，約占出口量 80%，2025 年進口金額估計達 40 億美元。目前，墨西哥酪梨產業由 3.5 萬名農戶、90 間加工廠與 5.4 萬座果園組成，不僅為墨西哥貢獻 60 億美元的經濟產出，同時在美國也帶來 75 億美元的產值，合計支持近 12 萬個工作機會。

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the United States remains the top buyer of Mexican avocados, accounting for nearly 80% of exports, with imports projected to reach $4 billion in 2025. The sector spans 35,000 farmers, 90 packing facilities, and 54,000 orchards, contributing $6 billion to Mexico’s economy and an additional $7.5 billion in the U.S., together supporting close to 120,000 jobs.

新規則：2026 年起「毀林地」不得出口

此次承諾由 墨西哥酪梨出口者與包裝商協會（APEAM） 與 美國墨西哥哈斯酪梨進口協會（MHAIA）共同提出。根據新規定：

這一舉措顯然針對外界批評。根據 氣候權利國際（CRI） 的調查，2014 至 2023 年間，墨西哥酪梨種植可能導致 4 萬至 7 萬英畝森林消失，並引發非法取水、乾旱與社區衝突，甚至與地方暴力事件相關。

New Rule: No Exports from Deforested Land after 2025

The new standard was jointly announced by the Association of Avocado Exporting Producers and Packers of Mexico (APEAM) and the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association (MHAIA). Key provisions include:

The move directly addresses rising criticism. A study by Climate Rights International (CRI) found that avocado expansion in Mexico contributed to the loss of 40,000–70,000 acres of forest between 2014 and 2023, alongside illegal water use, drought, and social conflicts - in some cases linked to organized crime.

消費者與監管壓力升高

永續疑慮不僅停留在環境層面，也延伸至法律戰場。2024 年，美國 有機消費者協會（OCA） 對部分酪梨進口商提告，指控其以「永續」與「責任採購」為名誤導消費者。

CRI 高級顧問 Daniel Wilkinson 警告，果園雖需數年才開始結果，但森林砍伐與水資源短缺已對社區造成即刻衝擊。他同時指出，一些產區與組織犯罪掛鉤，增加執法與監管的難度。

Rising Consumer and Regulatory Pressure

Sustainability concerns are also entering the courtroom. In 2024, the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) filed lawsuits against certain avocado importers, alleging misleading claims of “sustainability” and “responsible sourcing.”

Daniel Wilkinson, senior adviser at CRI, cautioned:

“While orchards take years to produce fruit, deforestation and water shortages cause immediate harm to local communities. In some areas, these pressures are compounded by links to organized crime, complicating enforcement.”

產業回應：2035 年淨零藍圖

面對批評，APEAM 與 MHAIA 推出 「永續之路（Path to Sustainability）」 計畫，設定水資源管理、生物多樣性保護、2035 年達成「零毀林」與「淨零排放」等目標。根據產業估算，僅有 3–5% 的酪梨來自 2018 年後開墾的土地。

墨西哥政府環境與林業部門將負責監管與執行，並擴大 2020 年建立的溯源系統。該系統原本為植物檢疫設計，現將用於追蹤酪梨是否來自毀林地。

Industry Response: Net Zero by 2035

To respond, APEAM and MHAIA unveiled their “Path to Sustainability” strategy, which includes water management, biodiversity protection, and targets of zero deforestation and net-zero emissions by 2035. Industry data suggests only 3–5% of avocado production comes from land cleared after 2018.

Oversight will fall to Mexico’s environment and forestry agencies, which plan to expand the traceability system introduced in 2020. Originally designed for plant health inspections, the system will now track whether avocados originate from deforested land.

然而，Wilkinson 也提醒：「若認證缺乏嚴格驗證，很可能淪為漂綠（greenwashing）。」

專欄觀察：全球「綠色供應鏈」的壓力測試

Yet Wilkinson warned:

“Without strict verification, certification risks becoming another form of greenwashing.”

Analysis: A Stress Test for Global Green Supply Chains

此舉標誌著酪梨產業開始面對「全球永續供應鏈」的現實壓力。未來國際市場可能出現幾個趨勢：

Mexico’s commitment marks a critical test for the global push toward sustainable supply chains. Several trends may shape the market ahead:

目前，部分大型出口商已與 米卻肯州政府及 Guardián Forestal（森林守護計畫）合作，阻止來自毀林與保護區的酪梨進入供應鏈。未來，墨西哥能否真正兼顧「森林保護」與「經濟命脈」，將是其農業永續道路上的關鍵考驗。

Some large exporters are already working with the Michoacán state government and the Guardián Forestal program to block avocados from deforested or protected areas from entering the supply chain. Whether Mexico can safeguard both its forests and its economic lifeline will be a defining challenge for its agricultural sustainability strategy.