Sugar Tariffs, Sargassum Solutions, and Cross-Border Cooperation

Mexico decreed new ad-valorem sugar import tariffs of up to 210.44% to protect the domestic industry. Meanwhile, IMIPAS, joined forces with public and private organizations to develop a sustainable sargassum management model in Quintana Roo.

This is the Week in Agribusiness and Food!

Mexico Increases Taxes on Sugar Imports

The Mexican government issued a decree to modify import tariffs on sugar to protect the national sugarcane industry from domestic oversupply and falling global prices. The previous fixed tariffs, ranging from US$0.338 to US$0.39586 per kg, were replaced with ad-valorem rates of 156% and 210.44%, depending on the product classification. Authorities stated that the measure, aligned with WTO commitments, aims to safeguard the sector’s profitability and stability amid international market distortions.

Mexico Advances Sargassum Governance

The Mexican Institute for Research in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (IMIPAS), the Riviera Maya Hotel Association (AHRM), and The Seas We Love (TSWL) signed an agreement to improve sargassum containment, collection, and mitigation in Quintana Roo. The initiative will develop a governance model, create a value market around the biomass, and promote scientific and technological innovation for sustainable management. Supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Spain’s AECID, the project aims to transform sargassum into an economic resource while protecting tourism, livelihoods, and coastal ecosystems across the Caribbean.

CONAGUA Advances Irrigation Modernization

Mexico’s National Water Commission (CONAGUA) reported significant progress in the modernization of irrigation infrastructure under the National Water Plan to boost agricultural efficiency and water security. Projects across multiple states, including Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, and Hidalgo, are advancing through canal piping, aqueduct construction, and the adoption of technologies such as multi-gate irrigation systems that halve water use. The program aims to recover 2.8 billion m³ of water by 2030, benefiting over 225,000 users and modernizing 18 irrigation districts nationwide.

Mexico, US Advance Talks on Reopening Cattle Trade

President Claudia Sheinbaum met with US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to address the ongoing US border closure to Mexican cattle exports, imposed due to the detection of the New World screwworm. Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to animal health cooperation, progress on the eradication campaign, and stronger sanitary intelligence through agencies such as SENASICA and APHIS-USDA. While the US has not yet provided a timeline for reopening, officials emphasized that renewed trust and coordinated action are paving the way for a return to normal trade conditions.

FoodTech Strategy Must Pivot to Food Security: KM ZERO

KM ZERO, originally created by Familia Martínez, has evolved into Spain’s first multicorporate food innovation hub, offering solutions that connect startups, investors, and major food companies across the agri-food value chain. Its mission is to drive a just, healthy, and resilient food future by making open innovation accessible, particularly for SMEs that lack internal R&D capacity. In Mexico and Latin America, KM ZERO emphasizes that innovation must address food security, sovereignty, and sustainability, shifting from commodity exports to value-added production and using technologies like AI and regenerative agriculture to ensure efficient, equitable food systems.