The AgWater Challenge, led by Ceres and World Wildlife Fund (WWF), is engaging major companies with significant agricultural supply chains on water stewardship. Together, we’re spurring some of the world’s most influential companies to make stronger, more transparent, time-bound and measurable commitments that better protect our limited freshwater resources.
The $5 trillion global food and agribusiness sector operates at the center of the global water crisis, using 70% of the world’s freshwater supply and contributing enormously to global water pollution. As population growth, pollution, and climate change increasingly threaten water availability and quality, companies that source agricultural products will be the first to face supply disruptions, higher operating costs, growth constraints, and more if water risks are left unchecked. Companies can and must practice sustainable water stewardship to achieve long-term business growth and to heed the growing calls from governments, investors and consumers to mitigate water risks in agricultural supply chains. The Ceres/WWF AgWater Challenge calls on companies to make strong commitments to protect freshwater in their agricultural supply chains.
Participating companies:
- Set time-bound and measurable commitments to reduce the water impacts associated with key agricultural commodities
- Implement practices that improve soil health and manage nutrients in high risk watersheds in order to to support crop productivity, reduce erosion, increase water holding capacity, promote biodiversity, improve water quality and increase soil carbon levels
- Provide technical support and financial incentives to farmers and other agricultural producers to strengthen water stewardship practices
- Implementing locally-relevant sustainable agricultural strategies with respect to crop types, variations in climate, and the economic and cultural suitability of key practices by farmers in the region
Since its launch in 2016, eleven companies have joined the AgWater Challenge by making strong commitments to protect freshwater in their agricultural supply chains.
Interested in joining?
Beyond opportunities to earn recognition as a leader in responding to agricultural supply chain water challenges, you company will benefit from access to leading nonprofit experts, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, access to investor and shareholder dialogues, recognition of your progress in Ceres' next corporate water benchmarking report, and insights from communications experts on how to effectively tell your water story.
