Climate change and agricultural workers in the Michoacán avocado industry: Opportunities and trade-offs in coupling plant and human health for sustainability

The rapidly expanding demand for avocado production places significant strain on agricultural communities and associated ecosystems. As temperature increases and water scarcity worsens, the avocado, a high-water demanding crop, faces declining yields and increased tree mortality. Deforestation, monoculture farming, and pesticide use further threaten interconnected landscapes, reducing biodiversity, degrading soil quality, and devaluing natural capital. Michoacán, Mexico, the largest producer of avocados worldwide, with production expected to reach 9.2 million tonnes per year by 2028, now faces additional pressures to keep up with market demand in a changing climate. To meet such demands, production workers are exposed to high levels of pesticides that are harmful for workers’ physical and mental health. In addition to chemical exposures, increasing labor demands pose additional threats for workers who face elevated risks for depression and anxiety. Through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 3 avocado growers and 1 supervisory personnel, and following principles of a knowledge-action network, we develop recommendations to achieve socio-ecological outcomes within the avocado system that emphasize plant and human health. Here, we draw attention to an urgent need to address these complex environmental and social challenges associated with avocado production. We provide and discuss trade-offs of 4 recommendations emphasizing governance, science, and policy: (1) targeted policy intervention, (2) inclusive and equitable social initiatives, (3) a comprehensive science program, and (4) fostering transparency through open-access data sharing. These measures can strengthen the interconnected agricultural, ecological, and human systems associated with this key crop, improving their capacity to adapt and endure over time.