Ica, Peru: Water Roadmap Collective Action Project

The challenges in Ica’s waters

In southern Peru lies Ica, one of the world’s most significant agricultural regions and the source of 65% of Peru’s agricultural exports. Known for its year-round supply of asparagus, avocados, grapes, blueberries and more, Ica plays a critical role in global food production. But the area’s natural water supply is dropping as climate change reduces rainfall and rapid population growth increases demand for drinking water and sanitation.

With less reliable rainfall, the region’s booming agricultural sector has become heavily dependent on abstracting water. While it’s widely accepted that these abstraction levels are unsustainable, the scale of the challenge remains under debate.

With water security under growing strain, farmers, businesses and local communities are coming together to find solutions. That’s where our Collective Action Project comes in.

We’ve combined forces with IDH and their Sustainability Initiative for Fruit and Vegetables to help strengthen Ica’s water cycle, reduce soil runoff, boost biodiversity and improve local livelihoods. Led on the ground by Good Stuff International, the project is embedded into a wider water stewardship plan for the area.

What we’re doing to protect water in Ica

We’ve built trusted relationships with local communities, producers, businesses and partners to deliver hands-on solutions that keep water in the landscape, protect soil and improve biodiversity. Together we are:

• Creating infiltration ditches and reservoirs to reduce runoff and boost water retention for use during dry periods
• Planting native trees to help regulate the climate, slow down soil from eroding into waterways, capture nutrients and support local biodiversity
• Engaging with local communities to co-design a sustainable land management plan that will benefit and improve their livelihoods

Whether your business grows in or sources from Ica, you have a role to play in protecting their water.

You don’t have to go it alone – join the Water Roadmap to access guidance and help support this important project.

Our impact in Ica so far

The Collective Action Project in Ica officially launched in 2023 and was built on trusted relationships with the Los Libertadores community. We’ve already supported the creation of 68km of infiltration ditches in the catchment surrounding the Los Libertadores, helping an estimated 10 million litres of water to soak into the ground. Over 9,000 native trees have been planted to restore ecosystems and stabilise soils, with thanks to 20 community members that were employed to plant trees and build the infiltration ditches.

Progress has been possible thanks to the support of Water Roadmap members and partners who are helping fund on-the-ground delivery and promoting sustainable water management in their supply chains.

"We have been working for a long time on making collective action in Ica a reality. It’s very exciting to see key players on both sides of the ocean, in Peru and in Europe, now join forces for responsible water management in the Ica catchment. Together, by working with all players in the value chain, we can achieve more impact, faster."

Coen van Iwaarden, Sr. Advisor Sustainable Business, Nature’s Pride

Scaling up: action still needed

Water in Ica should be a thriving lifeline for nature, food production and local communities. Now is the time to help protect and restore it. We need more businesses that source from or work in the region to step up, champion water stewardship across their supply chains, and fund the next phase of this critical work.

By joining the Water Roadmap, your participation will drive: 

1. A water stewardship plan for the project’s second phase, compiling learnings and scaling up action on what’s worked
2. Further engagement with local communities and stakeholders to build trust, dialogue and collaboration
3. More work in the uplands of Ica, helping communities maintain the work done so far and implementing more nature-based solutions
4. Learnings and solutions that can be implemented in other current and future Water Roadmap projects.