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| Mira Costa College, Horticulture Dep. San Diego |
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| Agaves in Miracosta College, S. Diego |
With an investment of 50 million pesos, (3.9 M
USD) is built over an area of 3
hectares in the Bajio area in Zapopan, the first Research Center of Agave,
Tequila and Derivatives, which consist of 3 three buildings of Research and 1 one
of post graduate.
In the aforementioned Research Center will
research in the field of plant, biotechnology, industrial and food, housing
knowledge to generate new products call besides studying agaváceas in order to
preserve their germoplasma, (Genomics) because several of them are in danger of
extinction, depredated or find them too "exotic".
In the world there are 200 species of Agave,
of which 150 are in Mexico and 100 are endemic, but at most three of them have
been properly studied, which opens a wide panorama to explore its use in this
research center be unique nationally, said Dr. José de Anda Sanchez, General Director
of the Center for Research and Assistance in Technology and Design in Jalisco
(CIATEJ).
At a press conference, where he announced the
completion of Agave Pro Expo, the National Fair Industry Agave, from 24 to 26
October in Guadalajara Expo facilities, said the rich biodiversity of agaves in
Mexico is very wide and is much research on the comparative advantages of the
species have agaváceas, is why Pro Agave, is a national forum for producers of
spirits such as tequila, Mezcal, Raicilla, Bacanora and Sotol and food,
medicine and bio fuels, Academia, Research Centers and public know what is being
done in research and issues that have to do with sustainability.
He added that the Pro Agave Forum will realize
the importance of this Research Centre of the genetic material for the country
and will allow those agaves that are not being used can also be preserved as a
heritage of Mexico and humanity.
The CIATEJ, knows the importance of Tequilana
Weber Agave in the region, in addition to having worked with Mescaleros in Durango,
Michoacán, Oaxaca and San Luis Potosi, analytical services, technology, research
and development projects for the creation of new products, not just for drinks
and food but also to human health, because the molecules of Agave allow open
lines of research to combat chronic diseases, Said.
For his part, President of Pro Agave Hector
Serratos, added that this Expo will be grouped product providers and related
services industry mainly agave distillate production (Tequila, ipecac, Bacanora,
Sotol and Mezcal) in objective of strengthening the productive chain of agave
and promote growth.
Some of the objectives are PRO AGAVE encourage
business creation and production projects related to various sectors of the
agave production chain, serving as a forum for business networking and
information exchange, exhibition of new technologies, products and services for
agave production chain.
It also offers a business space for processors
and suppliers of different branches of industry in Mexico agave distillates,
function as a link between producers and manufacturers agave specialized
machinery, as well as between them and traders-buyers of finished products and
especially promote the growth of agave industry.
Marcela Flores Leopo.
Translation
Ramon F Olmedo
