Better guacamole? How avocado import rules helped cut Mexico’s water pollution – it holds lessons for future US trade deals

America allowed avocados from across Mexico under stricter inspection rules in 2016; farmers reduced routine chemical use and nearby nitrogen pollution fell about 10%

New United States import rules for Mexican avocados prompted growers to reduce chemical use. This change significantly lowered nitrogen pollution in nearby Mexican waterways. Stricter inspections and phytosanitary certificates encouraged more careful pest management practices. The market access incentivized cleaner production methods without halting trade. This demonstrates how trade policies can yield unexpected environmental benefits.

Better guacamole? How avocado import rules helped cut Mexico’s water pollution – it holds lessons for future US trade deals

Growing avocados can contribute to water pollution, but there are ways to reduce the harm. Estúdio Bloom/Unsplash, CC BYAt picnics and World Cup watch parties across the United States this summer, people have been reaching for bowls of chips and guacamole. Most of that guacamole is made from avocados grown in Mexico – on orchards that, in what might come as a surprise, contribute less water pollution today than they did a decade ago. There’s a s…