NewForesight helps drive collective action for sustainable agriculture in Aconcagua Valley – Consultancy.lat

Report on the Aconcagua Valley Sustainable Agriculture Initiative

1.0 Introduction: Addressing Water Scarcity Through Collective Action

A multi-stakeholder initiative in Chile’s Aconcagua Valley, facilitated by the sustainability consultancy NewForesight, has successfully reduced the regional water gap by approximately 14 percent. This project serves as a critical case study in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through collaborative action. By uniting farmers, buyers, government bodies, and civil society, the initiative directly addresses key targets within several SDGs, most notably:

• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): By promoting sustainable water management.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): By creating a functional multi-stakeholder partnership.
• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): By securing the future of food production in a vital agricultural region.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): By engaging the entire supply chain in sustainable practices.

The project implemented a comprehensive strategy focusing on regenerative, water-resilient farming practices and the development of a supportive enabling environment for long-term sustainability.

2.0 Situational Analysis: Agricultural Importance and Environmental Threats

2.1 Economic Significance of the Aconcagua Catchment

The Aconcagua Valley is a globally significant agricultural hub, central to Chile’s status as a leading exporter of premium produce. The region is a primary supplier of avocados, citrus, and other fruits to key international markets. In 2023, Chile’s avocado exports alone were valued at approximately $230 million, with a significant portion originating from the Aconcagua Valley. This economic activity is fundamental to local livelihoods and national export revenues, but its viability is under threat.

2.2 The Water Crisis: A Barrier to Sustainable Development

The primary challenge confronting the Aconcagua catchment is severe water stress, exacerbated by unsustainable agricultural practices and the effects of climate change. This has resulted in a critical environmental imbalance with direct implications for several SDGs.

• Negative Water Balance: Analysis identified a negative water balance of 572 liters per second, indicating that water outflows exceed inflows. This leads to long-term aquifer depletion, directly contravening the principles of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), particularly Target 6.4 concerning water-use efficiency and sustainable withdrawals.
• Threat to Food Security (SDG 2): With agriculture responsible for nearly 75% of the water gap, the future of crop production is at major risk. This poses a direct threat to regional food security and the stability of global food supply chains, undermining progress toward SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).
• Climate Change Impact (SDG 13): Increasing drought conditions driven by climate change intensify the water crisis, highlighting the need for adaptive measures as outlined in SDG 13 (Climate Action).
• Ecosystem Degradation (SDG 15): The depletion of water resources contributes to land degradation and threatens water-related ecosystems, a core concern of SDG 15 (Life on Land).

3.0 Project Implementation: A Framework for Achieving the SDGs

3.1 A Multi-Stakeholder Partnership for the Goals (SDG 17)

The project’s success was founded on a collaborative model that exemplifies SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). NewForesight convened a diverse coalition of stakeholders committed to collective action, including:

• Producers: Farmers represented by the Aconcagua Network.
• Government Bodies: Including the Embassy of the Netherlands in Chile.
• Industry and Supply Chain Actors: European importers and retailers.
• Civil Society: Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and technical experts.

This partnership established the foundation for shared responsibility and coordinated efforts, ensuring that solutions were both practical and widely supported.

3.2 Strategic Interventions for Sustainable Production (SDG 12)

The initiative’s strategy was designed to foster responsible production and consumption patterns, in line with SDG 12. It sought solutions across three distinct levels:

1. The Farm Level: Promoting the adoption of water-resilient and regenerative agricultural practices among local farmers.
2. The Supply Chain Level: Securing commitments from importers and retailers to support and invest in sustainable production in the Aconcagua Valley.
3. The Landscape Level: Working with local authorities and stakeholders to create a stronger enabling environment for sustainable water and land management.

4.0 Outcomes and Global Implications

4.1 Advancing Water Security and Resilient Agriculture

The primary outcome of the collective action was a 14% reduction in the Aconcagua Valley’s water gap. This tangible result represents a significant step toward achieving SDG 6 by improving water-use efficiency and mitigating the effects of water scarcity. Furthermore, by making agriculture more resilient, the project strengthens food systems and contributes to the long-term goals of SDG 2.

4.2 A Replicable Model for Global Action

The challenges in the Aconcagua catchment are representative of a growing threat to agricultural regions worldwide. The project’s framework provides a replicable template for addressing similar water crises in other key agricultural areas, such as Morocco, Mexico, and South Africa. It underscores that shared responsibility across the entire supply chain—from producers to European consumers—is essential for building resilience against climate change and ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources, thereby advancing SDG 12 and SDG 13 on a global scale.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article addresses SDG 2 by focusing on the sustainability of food production. It highlights that the future production of “avocados and other fruits and vegetables is at major risk,” which could lead to “disruption to global food supply chains” and impact “food security.” The project’s aim to foster “regenerative, water-resilient farming practices” directly supports the goal of creating sustainable food production systems.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This is the central SDG discussed in the article. The entire project revolves around addressing water challenges in the Aconcagua Valley, such as “drought and unsustainable water use,” a “negative water balance of about 572 liters per second,” and the risk of “aquifer depletion.” The primary goal of the initiative was to “lower the water gap by around 14 percent” through “resilient, sustainable water management.”

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The article connects the issue to consumption and production patterns by highlighting the role of the supply chain. It states that “European importers of food products from threatened environments like Aconcagua play a role in this – and share part of the responsibility to find a solution.” This points towards the need for sustainable supply chains and responsible sourcing by buyers and retailers.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article explicitly links the water crisis in the Aconcagua catchment to climate change, noting that “increasing drought conditions driven by climate change” are causing severe stress. The project’s objective to “boost sustainability and resilience” in the valley is a direct response to the need for adaptation to climate-related challenges.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article touches upon SDG 15 by mentioning the broader environmental context. The project involved an analysis of “risks regarding water, biodiversity, and land degradation” within the “Aconcagua catchment,” which is described as an area of “flood plains and related ecosystems.” The focus on unsustainable agricultural practices and their impact on the local environment is directly relevant to protecting terrestrial ecosystems.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  This SDG is exemplified by the project’s methodology. The article emphasizes a “collective action” approach, bringing together a wide range of actors including “farmers, buyers, governments, and civil society.” This “multi-stakeholder partnership” is presented as the core strategy for achieving sustainable water management and is the foundation of the entire initiative described.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 2.4

   “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems…and that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought…”
   The article’s focus on implementing “regenerative, water-resilient farming practices” to combat the effects of drought and ensure the future production of fruits and vegetables directly aligns with this target.

2. Target 6.4

   “By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity…”
   The project’s main goal to “lower the water gap by around 14 percent” and address the “negative water balance” caused by unsustainable water use in agriculture is a direct effort to achieve this target.

3. Target 6.5

   “By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.”
   The collaborative approach of bringing together “farmers, buyers, and local authorities” to drive “sustainable water management” at the catchment level is a clear example of implementing integrated water resources management as described in this target.

4. Target 13.1

   “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.”
   The initiative aims to “boost sustainability and resilience in Chile’s Aconcagua Valley” specifically in response to “increasing drought conditions driven by climate change,” which directly corresponds to this target.

5. Target 15.3

   “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.”
   The article mentions that the project analyzed risks related to “land degradation” in a region suffering from severe drought. The promotion of sustainable agricultural practices contributes to mitigating and reversing land degradation.

6. Target 17.17

   “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.”
   The project is a textbook example of this target, described as a “multi-stakeholder partnership” that has “brought together farmers…government bodies…industry stakeholders…experts; and NGOs” to achieve a common sustainability goal.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Quantitative Indicator of Water Management

  The article provides a specific, measurable outcome: the project’s success in lowering “the water gap by around 14 percent.” This serves as a direct indicator for progress on Target 6.4 (water-use efficiency).

• Baseline Water Balance Data

  The mention of a “negative water balance of about 572 liters per second” acts as a baseline indicator. Measuring changes to this figure over time would track progress in restoring a sustainable water balance in the catchment.

• Implementation of Sustainable Practices

  The adoption of “regenerative, water-resilient farming practices” is an implied indicator. The number of farms or the total area of land adopting these practices could be measured to track progress towards Target 2.4.

• Establishment of Partnerships and Commitments

  The successful formation of the “multi-stakeholder partnership” is itself an indicator of progress for Target 17.17. Furthermore, the effort to work “towards commitments from retailers, importers, and other stakeholders to collective action” is a measurable step in strengthening these partnerships.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: consultancy.lat