NewForesight helps drive collective action for sustainable agriculture in Aconcagua Valley
In order to boost sustainability and resilience in Chile’s Aconcagua Valley, Netherlands-based sustainability consultancy NewForesight collaborated with farmers, buyers, governments, and civil society to lower the water gap by around 14 percent.
The comprehensive approach sought solutions across three levels: the farm, the supply chain, and the broader environment, aiming to foster more regenerative, water-resilient farming practices and stronger enabling environments for sustainable management.
The mighty Aconcagua, in the central Andes, is the highest mountain in the Americas. The Aconcagua catchment refers to the flood plains and related ecosystems fed by the mountain’s many streams, an area with a long history of agriculture.
Chile is one of the world’s leading suppliers of premium produce – including avocados, citrus, cherries, and other fruits – to key markets such as the UK and the European Union. The country experienced a remarkable boom in fruit exports during the mid to late 20th century, transforming its agricultural sector into a global powerhouse. In 2023 alone, Chile exported approximately 89,346 metric tons of avocados, with an export value of around $230 million.
The climate and water challenges
Yet challenges such as drought and unsustainable water use are putting pressure on avocado and fruit production in the Aconcagua catchment.
“The facts are sobering: A negative water balance of about 572 liters per second. That’s why we are building a partnership bringing together farmers, buyers, and local authorities to drive more resilient, sustainable water management,” stated said NewForesight in a LinkedIn post.
Unsustainable agricultural practices, combined with increasing drought conditions driven by climate change, has for years been causing severe stress to the Aconcagua catchment. The resulting negative water balance, in which water outflows exceed inflows, will eventually lead to aquifer depletion in the long term.
That means the future production of avocados and other fruits and vegetables is at major risk, and supply chains will be affected without a solution. Agriculture is responsible for nearly three quarters of the water gap in Aconcagua, according to NewForesight analysis.
In order to get the project done, NewForesight brought together farmers, represented by the Aconcagua Network; government bodies, including the Embassy of the Netherlands in Chile; industry stakeholders like European importers and retailers; a variety of experts; and NGOs.
The consulting firm promotes collective action on water catchments worldwide, and hopes to use the Aconcagua project as a template for future projects in similar catchments in Morocco, Mexico, and South Africa.
“We analyzed the key issues in the Aconcagua valley, Chile, such as risks regarding water, biodiversity, and land degradation,” stated NewForesight. “We then identified key stakeholders who can be part of the solution – including the supply chain from producer to retailer.”
“The foundations for the multi-stakeholder partnership have been laid and we are working towards commitments from retailers, importers, and other stakeholders to collective action in Aconcagua.”
Agriculture in Chile and beyond
The challenges faced in Chile’s Aconcagua catchment are a microcosm of a broader threat growing across Latin America and other regions heavily dependent on agriculture. Climate change is escalating the frequency and severity of droughts, creating a vicious cycle where scarce resources force farmers to deplete vital water sources.
Since the agricultural sector is a significant economic driver and water consumer, the resulting decline in crop yields and disruption to global food supply chains poses a serious risk to regional stability, food security, and international trade. 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.
