The Power of Water: Securing the Future of Argentina’s Agroindustrial System

Two key agricultural regions in Argentina are modernizing strategic irrigation systems to promote more efficient water use. Investing in water for food production is a way to strengthen agricultural resilience while increasing crop yields in a competitive and globally connected market.

In the south of the province of Córdoba, a new aqueduct has enabled access to reliable water and made it possible to recover 50,000 productive hectares, an essential step toward consolidating sustainable livestock farming among small and medium-sized producers in the region.

In the Río Negro Valley, an export hub for apples, pears, and nuts, new irrigation works have allowed production to expand across 4,000 hectares.

These investments were carried out under the Integrated Risk Management Program for the Rural Agrifood System (GIRSAR), supported by the World Bank, which seeks to manage risks in rural agribusiness throughout the country.

Water in Action

Imbalances in water use are among the greatest challenges to global food security, but also one of its greatest opportunities.

The new World Bank Group report, Nourish and Flourish: Water Solutions to Feed 10 Billion People on a Livable Planet, reveals that the world does not necessarily face a water shortage, but rather a severe imbalance: while some regions are depleting their aquifers, others have water resources but need smarter decisions to make effective use of them.

The report lays out a bold roadmap: if we rebalance water use, we can not only feed 10 billion people by 2050, but also generate 245 million jobs in the process.

These two projects in Argentine provinces show how strategic investment aligned with the global water agenda can transform water into an engine for growth:

Córdoba: Infrastructure for Climate-Smart Livestock Farming

In southern Córdoba, the Livestock Aqueduct of the Roque Sáenz Peña Department has become a critical infrastructure work, transforming the productive landscape of thousands of hectares between Laboulaye and General Levalle.

By ensuring access to quality water in historically vulnerable areas, this project not only safeguards livestock activity against climate-related risks, but also directly stabilizes livelihoods in communities such as La Providencia, La Ramada, and Santa Ana.

With reliable access to water, 128 producers will be able to double their stocking rates and improve the metabolic efficiency of their herds, reducing livestock mortality.

Río Negro: Smart Irrigation, a Productivity Leap

After more than fifty years in operation, the irrigation system of the Lower Valley Development Institute (IDEVI) has been fully modernized.. The project aims to deliver water in a timely and reliable manner to the 500 farms surrounding the city of Viedma, in the lower valley of the province-an area recognized as Argentina's leading producer of hazelnuts.

Two years ago, works began to line a critical section of the main irrigation canal, replace and mechanize gates, and install sensors to measure water flow. In addition, farming practices were improved to ensure the sustainability of future agricultural models.

When a producer in Viedma can open their gate knowing they will have enough water for their crops, they are also securing their family's stability, their community's nutrition, and ultimately contributing to the sustainability of the planet.

With a long-term vision, Argentina is showing that forward-looking water management can strengthen food security while improving the living conditions of producers.