Update: 2016 AgWater Challenge

The AgWater Challenge, launched in October 2016 by WWF and Ceres, engages food and beverage companies in reducing water risks in their supply chains. The inaugural cohort of seven companies committed to measurable goals across five stewardship 'ingredients': risk assessment, sustainable policies, time-bound goals, watershed collaboration, and farmer support. While companies showed progress in risk assessment and policy setting, supporting growers remains a significant challenge. Key participants like PepsiCo, Diageo, and Kellogg have implemented specific targets for water efficiency and sustainable sourcing, emphasizing the need for senior management buy-in and holistic risk management.

• The AgWater Challenge was launched in October 2016 by Ceres and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to assist food and beverage companies in reducing water risks in supply chains and impacts on local watersheds. The inaugural group of seven companies represented $123 billion in annual net revenue.
• The initiative evaluates corporate action based on five 'Key Stewardship Ingredients': assessing water risks in sourcing regions, setting sustainable agriculture policies, establishing time-bound goals to reduce water impacts, collaborating at the watershed level, and supporting farmers in water stewardship.
• Participating companies showed the most progress in the first two ingredients—water risk assessment and the creation of sourcing policies—while providing support and empowerment to growers remained the most difficult area for new commitments.
• Several companies set specific, measurable targets: PepsiCo aimed for a 15% improvement in water efficiency in high-risk sourcing areas (specifically India and Mexico) by 2025; Diageo committed to sustainable agricultural supplies for six raw materials by 2020; and Kellogg pledged to responsibly source 10 priority ingredients by 2020.
• Internal resourcing and senior management sponsorship were identified as critical barriers and success factors; without a clear business case and upper-management buy-in, long-term sustainability targets are unlikely to be maintained.
• Lessons from the first year indicate that water risk must be viewed holistically, integrating it with other sustainability challenges such as social issues, health, and land rights, particularly when working with smallholder farmers.

APA

WWF International (2016). Update: 2016 AgWater Challenge. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/798/1xbmofxouk_WWF_Ceres_AgWater_Challenge_Aug_2018.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Update: 2016 AgWater Challenge. 2016. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/798/1xbmofxouk_WWF_Ceres_AgWater_Challenge_Aug_2018.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Update: 2016 AgWater Challenge |date=2016 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/798/1xbmofxouk_WWF_Ceres_AgWater_Challenge_Aug_2018.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2016update, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Update: 2016 AgWater Challenge}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2016}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/798/1xbmofxouk_WWF_Ceres_AgWater_Challenge_Aug_2018.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }