In a world where over 50% of agricultural soils are degraded, aquifers continue to decline year after year, and nearly 70% of freshwater is consumed by agriculture, doing more of the same is no longer an option. The water and climate crisis is particularly evident in rural territories: reduced infiltration, increased erosion, diminished soil water-holding capacity, higher runoff pollution, and growing vulnerability among those who depend on the land to survive. In this context, regenerative agriculture is not just a technical promise—it is an urgent transformation. It is a way of farming that regenerates, infiltrates, captures, and restores life to soils and the hydrological cycle.
This project aims to convert conventional agricultural systems—especially in high water-stress areas—into regenerative systems through proven practices such as cover cropping, agroforestry, reduced tillage, and rotational grazing. These practices reduce runoff, increase infiltration, and improve water quality. In measurable terms, each hectare transformed has the potential to avoid up to 3,000 m³/year of water loss from surface runoff and reduce nutrient and sediment loads to nearby water bodies by over 30%. This transformation of soil into a water sponge not only mitigates drought and relieves pressure on freshwater sources but turns agriculture into an active agent of water replenishment and purification.
The project is implemented in semi-arid agricultural regions where pressure on water resources is critical and conventional practices have proven unsustainable. The rationale lies in reversing an accumulated degradation process—with direct impacts on soil health, watershed balance, and food security—through a shift in practices that is measurable, verifiable, and replicable.
The project brings together local farmers, agroecological cooperatives, conservation organizations, digital monitoring technology companies, and water benefit structurers. It follows the VWBA 2.0 methodology, applying Method A-1 (Curve Number) to quantify reduced runoff and Method A-13 to measure improvements in water quality from non-point source pollution control. All water benefits are reported under strict criteria of additionality (against a conventional baseline), intentionality (explicit water outcomes), and traceability (physical monitoring and digital reporting).
This initiative is more than farming. It is hydrological restoration at productive scale, climate resilience in practice, and a concrete pathway to generate Volumetric Water Benefits aligned with corporate goals for water replenishment, regenerative production, and agricultural sustainability.n, helping to mitigate climate change effects.
Conventional agriculture—particularly in semi-arid regions—faces a triple structural limitation: compacted soils with low water retention, intensive fertilization leading to diffuse pollution, and limited vegetative cover between cropping cycles. This combination accelerates runoff, degrades soil, reduces infiltration, and increases reliance on external inputs while amplifying pressure on rivers, canals, and aquifers. Against this backdrop, regenerative agriculture offers a systemic redesign opportunity: a way to grow food while actively restoring water balance and ecosystem health.
This project directly targets water-stressed agricultural plots, promoting regenerative practices that alter soil hydrological behavior. Implemented techniques include no-till cover cropping, adaptive grazing, live hedgerows, vegetated terraces, and green infrastructure to control runoff. These practices—quantified using VWBA 2.0 methodology—result in significantly reduced surface runoff and marked improvements in water quality by reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment loads.
Technologies deployed include soil moisture and compaction sensors, drone-based canopy monitoring, localized weather stations, and field-scale infiltration modeling. Transformed volumes are estimated based on area and avoided runoff losses: up to 3,000 m³/year of polluted surface water avoided per hectare, equivalent to the annual potable water consumption of around 20 urban households. These benefits translate into less pressure on freshwater sources, improved water quality in nearby channels and aquifers, and greater production resilience in the face of drought.
The project is led by a public-private consortium including farmer organizations, universities, local governments, technical institutions, and companies with ESG strategies aligned to Water Positive goals. For these companies, the project offers not only measurable, verifiable water impacts, but a powerful transformation narrative aligned with emerging regulations, sustainable agriculture certifications, and corporate sustainability standards.
Now is the time to act. Intensifying climate events, soil exhaustion, and evolving regulations on agricultural runoff and water quality create a critical window for change. This model is scalable to thousands of hectares, adaptable to different agroecological zones, and measurable through robust benefit accounting methodologies. Food, agro-export, finance, and technology companies that step forward as leaders in this transition will not only strengthen their ESG performance, but position themselves at the forefront of a new water economy—one that cultivates life instead of exhausting it.
The project will be implemented in structured phases, ensuring an efficient and sustainable solution to improve the performance and longevity of reverse osmosis (RO) systems. By preventing scaling, optimizing energy consumption, extending membrane lifespan, and reducing water waste, this initiative enhances both operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.
1. Prevention of Scaling with Antiscalant Application
The buildup of mineral deposits on RO membranes reduces efficiency, increases maintenance needs, and raises operational costs. To address this, an antiscalant will be applied to inhibit the crystallization of salts, keeping membranes free from scaling and ensuring stable system performance. This allows for higher treated water recovery rates, reducing wastewater discharge and optimizing overall water use. Additionally, the project minimizes the frequency of chemical cleaning cycles, lowering both water and chemical consumption in maintenance processes.
2. Energy Optimization and Cost Reduction
Scaling in RO systems increases pressure drops, forcing pumps to work harder and consume more energy. By maintaining membranes free of fouling, energy efficiency is improved, reducing operational costs and the system’s carbon footprint. A cleaner system also minimizes maintenance-related downtimes, ensuring a more reliable and continuous water supply for industrial and municipal applications.
3. Extended Lifespan of Reverse Osmosis Membranes
Frequent membrane fouling leads to premature degradation, requiring costly replacements. By keeping membranes clean, this project extends their lifespan, reducing replacement frequency and associated costs. This not only benefits operational budgets but also has a positive environmental impact by lowering waste generation. Additionally, the Fast Flush process will be optimized, reducing the need for frequent rinse cycles and further conserving water.
4. Improved Water Efficiency and Sustainability
By preventing scaling and optimizing system performance, this project reduces water waste and improves treated water recovery rates. The reduction in maintenance-related water consumption further enhances sustainability, aligning with global water conservation goals. Implementing these solutions ensures a long-term, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible water treatment process that enhances both efficiency and resource management.
SDG 2 – Zero Hunger: Promoting regenerative agriculture for sustainable food production.
SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation: Enhancing water availability through improved infiltration and runoff reduction.
SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: Reducing reliance on synthetic inputs and encouraging sustainable farming practices.
SDG 13 – Climate Action: Increasing resilience to droughts and extreme weather while enhancing carbon sequestration.
SDG 15 – Life on Land: Restoring degraded ecosystems and improving biodiversity in the watershed.
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: Engaging communities, NGOs, and private sector actors in a collaborative approach.
The project will be executed in strategic phases, ensuring a systematic and science-based approach to land restoration and water conservation. The structured implementation will focus on diagnostics, targeted interventions, capacity-building, and long-term monitoring, ensuring that the restored areas remain productive and resilient over time.
1. Comprehensive Assessment of Degraded Areas and Priority Interventions
The first phase of the project will involve a thorough evaluation of degraded landscapes, identifying priority intervention zones where land restoration efforts will have the most significant impact. This assessment will leverage satellite imagery, soil moisture sensors, and hydrological modeling to map the extent of land degradation and detect areas prone to erosion.
Detailed field studies will be conducted to complement remote sensing data, providing precise measurements of soil organic matter content, microbial activity, and compaction levels. These indicators will offer critical insights into water infiltration capacity, soil fertility, and overall land health, guiding the selection of appropriate restoration techniques.
With the collected data, a targeted restoration plan will be developed, ensuring that reforestation, soil regeneration, and regenerative agriculture practices are tailored to the specific ecological and hydrological needs of each site. This plan will define the best combination of interventions, such as native tree planting, erosion control structures, and agroecological techniques, to optimize ecosystem recovery.
2. Implementation of Sustainable Land Management Practices
Once priority areas are identified, the project will move into active intervention, focusing on reforestation, regenerative agriculture, and sustainable land management practices.
One of the primary strategies will be reforestation using native plant species, selected based on their ability to enhance soil stability, improve water retention, and support biodiversity. These trees and shrubs will be strategically planted in erosion-prone areas to reduce soil degradation and enhance local microclimates.
Simultaneously, the project will promote regenerative agricultural techniques aimed at improving soil structure, increasing organic matter content, and enhancing water absorption capacity. Local farmers and landowners will be trained in techniques such as:
The implementation of these techniques will contribute to a self-sustaining cycle of soil restoration and water conservation, ensuring that agricultural productivity can be maintained while reducing environmental degradation.
3. Capacity-Building and Community Engagement
A critical component of the project will be training programs designed to equip local farmers, landowners, and community members with the knowledge and tools necessary to adopt and maintain sustainable land management practices.
Workshops will provide hands-on training in soil restoration techniques, emphasizing best practices in regenerative agriculture, land conservation, and climate adaptation. Special focus will be placed on integrating local traditional knowledge with scientific approaches, fostering a holistic and culturally appropriate land stewardship model.
Additionally, farmer-led demonstration sites will be established, allowing participants to observe and implement techniques in real-world conditions. By fostering peer-to-peer learning and collaboration, these programs will strengthen local capacity for long-term environmental management.
4. Monitoring and Evaluation for Long-Term Sustainability
To ensure the success and sustainability of the restoration efforts, the project will implement a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system.
A combination of remote sensing, real-time soil moisture sensors, and field assessments will be used to track progress. Satellite imagery and drone observations will provide continuous updates on vegetation regrowth, soil cover, and ecosystem recovery, allowing for adaptive management based on real-time data.
In-field tests, such as water infiltration assessments and sedimentation monitoring, will help measure improvements in soil structure, erosion control, and water retention capacity. These data points will be crucial in demonstrating the long-term impact of sustainable land management interventions.
A participatory monitoring approach will be adopted, involving farmers and landowners in data collection and evaluation. By engaging the local community in the monitoring process, the project will foster a sense of ownership and responsibility, ensuring that restoration efforts continue beyond the initial implementation phases.
This initiative presents a scalable model for restoring degraded watersheds through reforestation and regenerative agriculture. The project is structured to create a lasting impact by integrating scientific monitoring, community involvement, and sustainable land-use practices that address both environmental and socio-economic challenges. Through targeted interventions, the project will not only improve water security and soil health but also foster a more resilient agricultural system that is adaptable to climate variability.
A key element of this initiative is its data-driven approach, utilizing real-time hydrological monitoring to assess improvements in infiltration rates, soil moisture retention, and erosion control. The use of satellite imagery, drone technology, and field-based soil assessments will allow for continuous evaluation, ensuring that reforestation efforts and regenerative agricultural techniques are optimized for maximum impact.
Community involvement will be fundamental in the success of this project. By engaging local farmers, landowners, and environmental organizations, the initiative will promote knowledge-sharing and encourage the adoption of best practices in sustainable land management. Training programs, demonstration plots, and participatory workshops will provide hands-on experience in regenerative techniques, empowering communities to take an active role in the restoration and long-term stewardship of their lands.
Additionally, this project will serve as a model for replication, offering valuable insights into the integration of nature-based solutions with advanced environmental monitoring. By demonstrating the effectiveness of combining agroforestry, cover cropping, holistic grazing, and sustainable water management, the project will provide a blueprint for similar restoration efforts in other regions facing watershed degradation and water scarcity challenges. The long-term vision is to establish a framework for policy recommendations and financial incentives that encourage widespread adoption of regenerative practices, ensuring broader environmental and economic benefits beyond the immediate scope of intervention.
