Efficient Technologies To Tackle Water Scarcity In Food Production

In the southwestern United States, water scarcity has become a structural challenge for agricultural production. Prolonged droughts and a changing climate that disrupt traditional hydrological cycles are placing increasing pressure on farmers, communities, and governance systems. California, Arizona, and other Colorado Basin states face a growing paradox: how to sustain their strategic role in the nation’s food security with less and less water available each year.

“Water scarcity isn’t just a limitation—it’s an invitation to innovate. Every drop we save is a strategic decision that can reshape the future of a farming community.” — Jairo Trad, CEO and co-founder of Kilimo.

In light of this scenario, various experiences in other water-stressed regions offer valuable lessons on how to address the crisis through a lens of efficiency. Latin America—a region that holds a third of the world’s freshwater resources but suffers from sharp inequalities in access and availability—has had to develop innovative solutions to produce more with less.

A Lesson from the South: Data in the Service of Water
In arid areas of Chile, Peru, and western Argentina, farmers have begun to transform the way they use irrigation water. Through digital platforms that integrate satellite imagery, soil-water balance models, and weekly crop reports, growers can fine-tune the volume and timing of irrigation according to the actual needs of their crops.

“Making decisions with data is like irrigating with precision—it’s not about doing more, but doing better. And when that happens, the impact is immediate—both in the field and in the farmer’s confidence.” — Jairo Trad, CEO and co-founder of Kilimo.

This approach, far from being a costly high-tech model, prioritizes decision-making based on simple, accessible, and locally relevant data. The results speak for themselves: average water savings of 15% to 30% per hectare, without compromising crop quality or yield.

Moreover, when traditional irrigation systems are upgraded—through practices like drip or pivot systems—water use efficiency can improve by up to 60%. When this infrastructure is paired with digital monitoring tools, efficiency levels can reach as high as 90%. These numbers point to a transformative potential that goes well beyond marginal gains.

What Can the U.S. Southwest Learn from Other Stressed Basins?
The Latin American experience shows that it’s not necessary to wait for large infrastructure investments or radical overhauls to start using water more efficiently in food production. Many of these solutions rely on combining traditional agronomic knowledge with lightweight digital tools, such as alert systems, mobile reports, and crop-level analytics—or even bringing basic technology to farms that still use gravity or flood irrigation. What matters most is building trust in technology through concrete results and close technical support.

“Change doesn’t come just from better tech, but from someone daring to use it, to share it, and to support others in the process. Scaling efficiency means scaling trust.” — Jairo Trad, CEO and co-founder of Kilimo.

In California, promising efforts are already underway—from modernized irrigation projects to advanced monitoring systems. But the potential for scaling is still enormous, especially if cross-sector collaboration is aligned with clear incentives that reward those who achieve greater efficiency.

Water as a Strategic Decision
The water crisis is not just an environmental threat; it is an opportunity to reshape the relationship between agriculture, technology, and sustainability. In a context where every drop counts, access to precise data and informed decision-making can be the difference between saving or losing a harvest.

While local paths may vary, the goal is shared: to ensure that water is sufficient to feed people, preserve ecosystems, and support rural livelihoods. Learning from those who are already innovating under pressure may be one of the smartest decisions for the future of agriculture in the American West.