Mexico Promotes Regenerative Agriculture to Save Water
By MBN Staff | MBN staff - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 15:21
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CONAGUA, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), the Private Sector Center for Sustainable Development Studies (CESPEDES), and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) launched the Regenerative Agriculture Days as a Tool for Sustainable Water Management in Mexico. This initiative addresses the significant water usage in agriculture, livestock, and aquaculture (76% of total water use in Mexico) while mitigating soil degradation and drought risks.
The program involves collaboration between the public sector, scientific research institutions, and private companies, with the participation of the National Agricultural Council (CNA) and the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) through CESPEDES. Grupo Bimbo, BASF, Bayer, Grupo Modelo, and PepsiCo serve as co-organizers and sponsors, while CIMMYT leads the scientific and technical aspects.
Sessions will cover:
- Conservation agriculture
- Minimum tillage
- Soil cover
- Crop rotation
- Irrigation technologies
- Rainwater management in rain-fed systems
Connecting Infrastructure, Science, and Farmers
"At the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, we reaffirm our commitment to... strengthen water efficiency, irrigation modernization, and strategies for rain-fed areas," said Jesús Vázquez, representing Columba López, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Aarón Mastache, Deputy Director General of Hydro-Agricultural Infrastructure at CONAGUA, highlighted the National Irrigation Modernization Program, aiming to intervene on over 200,000 ha in 18 strategic districts by 2030, with a MX63 billion investment. The program seeks to recover approximately 2.8 billion cubic meters of water through network and irrigation system improvements.
Daniela Vega, Advisory Coordinator to the Director General at CIMMYT, noted that CIMMYT's innovations in the Bajío region have achieved up to 40% water savings under evaluated conditions. "Caring for water means protecting our capacity to produce food and the livelihoods of farming families," she added. CIMMYT collaborates with Grupo Bimbo, Grupo Modelo, Grupo Trimex, and PepsiCo to test agricultural innovations under real production conditions.
"Regenerative agriculture cannot be built without farmers. The producer must be at the center of this transformation," stated Luis Ferrera, President of CESPEDES.