Cada vez más empresas, tanto grandes como medianas, están asumiendo un papel de liderazgo en la gestión sostenible del agua, alineando sus estrategias con los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) de la ONU para 2030. Sin embargo, la verdadera transformación ocurre cuando las empresas van más allá de medir y reducir únicamente su huella hídrica directa y comienzan a evaluar el impacto en toda su cadena de suministro, entendiendo el impacto del agua más allá del volumen compensado, abordando también su huella hídrica indirecta.
¡Bienvenidos a la edición de febrero de Drops a Month! En esta edición, nos enfocamos en el impacto del agua en toda la cadena de suministro necesaria para que una empresa pueda ofrecer un producto o servicio, un paso clave para una gestión hídrica más completa y responsable.
👀 Stay with us until the end to catch up on the latest Agrow news—we have exciting updates to share!
👣 Direct and Indirect Water Footprint
The definition of the water footprint has been a game-changer in the water stewardship industry, highlighting human consumption’s contribution to global water use and the governance dimensions necessary for sustainable management.
La huella hídrica evalúa tanto el uso directo como el indirecto del agua a lo largo de uno o varios procesos durante su ciclo de vida. Mientras que la huella hídrica directa considera el agua utilizada en un proceso, etapa o negocio específico, la huella hídrica indirecta mide el consumo de agua en toda la cadena de suministro, algo que solo puede entenderse correctamente partiendo de una buena medición del balance hídrico
🤝Collective Commitment and Water Footprint Reduction
Many companies are already calculating and reducing their direct water footprint, but only a few leading corporations are truly stepping up as corporate sustainability leaders, actively working on the measurement, traceability, and reduction of their indirect water footprint.
To move in this direction, companies investing in traceability systems gain insights into the origin and impact of water use at every stage of production. Under the framework of ISO 14046, traceability not only helps quantify the water used in each input and process but also identifies improvement opportunities, highlighting which parts of the supply chain have the highest water consumption and what type of water is being used (blue, green, or gray).
This approach enables strategic decision-making to reduce the water footprint across the entire value chain. Whether by optimizing water use, reducing fertilizer dependency through regenerative practices, or adopting other sustainable initiatives, companies can significantly reduce their environmental impact.
But traceability doesn’t just drive individual improvements—it fosters a collective approach, where optimizations implemented in one part of the supply chain benefit multiple stakeholders within the same production network. By doing so, companies not only measure and reduce their footprint but also generate a positive impact on ecosystems and the communities where they operate.
Measuring the water footprint is now a fundamental requirement for companies aiming to position themselves as sustainability leaders. But it’s not just about measuring—it’s about taking action: investing in technology, adapting processes, and committing to innovative solutions that ensure efficient and responsible water use.
📍Starting Point: Measuring the Water Footprint
To join this movement, the first step is to understand what indicators need to be measured.
Each company must define its commitment to water sustainability and set clear objectives:
1️⃣ Measuring the Water Footprint
Assessing the direct water footprint, related to internal processes, or the indirect water footprint, linked to the supply chain, is the first step.
2️⃣ Identifying Key Consumption Points
Once the water footprint is mapped—categorizing water use into blue, green, and gray—companies can strategically optimize their water consumption.
For example, if the gray water footprint represents a large portion of total consumption, reducing pollutant use in production or the supply chain could be an effective solution.
3️⃣ Replenishing the Water Footprint
Después de medir la huella hídrica en diferentes etapas de producción, las empresas pueden decidir si establecen un plan de reducción interno o si compensan su huella hídrica mediante proyectos de compensación, teniendo en cuenta que no todos los litros compensados generan el mismo impacto
Investing in water replenishment projects in stressed basins goes beyond simply reducing impact—it enables businesses to create a net-positive effect on water.
Esta estrategia permite que las corporaciones lideren en sostenibilidad, a través de proyectos de compensación, mejorando la resiliencia de los ecosistemas y la calidad de vida de las comunidades locales.
To achieve this, it is crucial to have precise and detailed data on water use at every production stage. Technical data is key to making informed and strategic decisions that enhance water efficiency and corporate sustainability leadership.
🌍Traceability and Sustainability: A Commitment Beyond 2030
En un mundo donde la crisis climática exige soluciones concretas, la trazabilidad del agua y la medición de la huella hídrica no son solo herramientas, sino elementos esenciales para avanzar hacia una economía circular del agua y modelos productivos más resilientes
Leading corporations understand that water sustainability is not an obligation—it’s an opportunity to improve their impact on the planet, ensure long-term resilience, and adapt to climate challenges. Additionally, as society becomes more aware and markets grow more demanding, embracing sustainability enhances competitiveness and strengthens corporate reputation.
Investing in technology-driven traceability is a commitment to tackling the global water crisis while driving meaningful climate action.
Now, onto Agrow’s latest updates! 🚀
✅ TEAM BUILDING 2025: We brought our team together for an unforgettable experience! We spent incredible days building Agrow’s future, strengthening connections, and having lots of fun. Now, more than ever, we can confidently say: what an incredible team we have!
✅ TECH4WATER: Our CEO, Antonella Maggioni, will be speaking at the panel “Irrigating to Grow Opportunities” at Amazon Web Services (AWS)' #Tech4Water event on March 3rd.
✅ I’MNOVATION: Pablo Crespo Moya and Antonella Maggioni participated in the I’MNOVATION Demo Day by ACCIONA, where they presented the real-time water footprint measurement tool developed in collaboration with ACCIONA. "It was an excellent space to share our vision and discover other initiatives driving innovation in sustainability," says Antonella.
💧🌿 And to you... thanks for reading until the end! Stay tuned for more insights, updates, and breakthroughs in the next edition. See you next month!
- The Agrow Team 🚀💧