(San Francisco, April 24, 2026) — A new monitoring and certification system is transforming how avocados are sourced for the United States (U.S.) market, enabling companies to screen suppliers and exclude orchards linked to deforestation and other environmental harms, speakers said at a panel on April 22 at San Francisco Climate Week.

Today, nearly 80 packinghouses, guacamole processors, and avocado oil producers in Mexico—representing approximately more than 90% of Mexican avocado exports to the U.S.—are using the system to screen suppliers and exclude orchards associated with environmental harms, including deforestation, land-use change following fires, and unresolved administrative orders or fines for environmental infractions.

San Francisco Climate Week is one of the United States’ most influential climate gatherings, bringing together thousands of leaders across climate policy, finance, technology, research, and advocacy. The panel, moderated by Brad Adams, Executive Director of Climate Rights International, featured Daniel Wilkinson of Climate Rights International and Heriberto Padilla of Guardián Forestal, and provided a high-profile platform to highlight efforts to address the environmental impacts of the U.S.–Mexico avocado trade.

“Until recently, there was a glaring gap between what avocado exporters and importers were saying about sustainability and what they could actually verify in their supply chains,” said Daniel Wilkinson, Senior Policy Advisor at Climate Rights International. “Now they have a tool to screen suppliers and make decisions based on rigorous, science-based monitoring—and they’re using it to great effect.”

Avocado production for export to the U.S. has fueled widespread deforestation in western Mexico and contributed to water scarcity and violence affecting local communities, as documented in Climate Rights International’s 2023 report, “Unholy Guacamole.”

Since late 2024, a cross-border collaboration spearheaded by Climate Rights International and Guardián Forestal has resulted in the establishment of the monitoring and certification program and the growing participation of avocado producers, exporters, and retailers. 

“What’s striking here is the breadth of the coalition—environmental groups, scientists, companies, Indigenous communities, and government officials—all coming together to achieve something that, not long ago, many people would have thought wasn’t possible,” Padilla said.

Avocado growers are beginning to use a feature of the program that links orchard-level certification to contributions for forest conservation, helping finance community-led projects to restore degraded lands and strengthen climate resilience—demonstrating that supply chain accountability can also generate positive environmental outcomes.

Padilla presented the Guardián Forestal monitoring system, explaining how it uses automated tools to analyze large volumes of satellite data and detect changes in vegetation and other environmental impacts linked to avocado production across millions of hectares. He fielded questions on the technical aspects of the system and how it is being used by packinghouses in Mexico and retailers in the U.S.

“One of the main drivers behind the rapid adoption of the system has been its transparency, independence, and ease of use,” Padilla said. “The industry has chosen to participate because most companies don’t want to be linked to environmental harms in the territory—and this system provides verifiable, science-based evidence to ensure that their sourcing decisions reflect that.”

Wilkinson emphasized that the system is based on technical criteria derived from continuous satellite monitoring and spectral analysis, allowing companies to make sourcing decisions based on observable environmental conditions rather than legal or administrative interpretations that too often fail to reflect conditions on the ground.

Padilla highlighted the important role played by the Michoacán state government in supporting the initiative, while also emphasizing that the monitoring system is designed to operate independently of state institutions, with oversight by environmental experts in Mexico and the U.S. Since its creation in Michoacán, the system has grown to cover avocado supply chains across six states in Mexico, with active participation by a wide range of actors across the avocado supply chain.

“We’ve been extremely impressed by Guardián Forestal’s technical capacity and effectiveness, as well as the critical support provided by the Michoacán government in getting the program off the ground,” said Wilkinson. “We believe this success in Mexico offers a powerful model for efforts around the globe to reduce commodity-driven deforestation and support community-led conservation.”