Articles by Magdaléna Rojo

Magdaléna Rojo is a freelance journalist covering human rights and global issues for print and online publications. She has written for The New Humanitarian, Deutsche Welle, YES! Magazine, The Progressive, Religion News Service, Southeast Asia Globe, Dennik N and Sedmá generace.

People in San Juan Raya decided to join a research project to grow agave for mezcal sustainably. Image by Noel Rojo for Mongabay.

Amid global mezcal craze, scientists and communities try out sustainable plantations

by Magdaléna Rojo 10 February 2023

TEHUACÁN-CUICATLÁN BIOSPHERE RESERVE, Mexico — The palenques, or local mezcal production sites, in the village of Santa María Ixcatlán stand unusually empty before the local Day of the Dead celebrations.…

Arabica coffee growing under a shade of trees. Image courtesy of Noel Rojo.

Farmers in Mexico fight coffee disease with resistant varieties and agroforestry

by Magdaléna Rojo 15 June 2022

SANTIAGO ATITLÁN, Mexico – Lucio Jimenez Ocampo is always surrounded by coffee. In the yard of his house in Santiago Atitlán nestled in the Oaxaca state’s Sierra Norte highlands, there…