Building a Sustainable Food System

The agri-food sector must align with sustainability trends to reduce environmental degradation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while maintaining profitability. Although businesses face financial and operational barriers in transitioning to sustainable practices, successful innovations have demonstrated measurable environmental benefits without compromising economic viability. Experts highlight key technologies and strategies to improve soil health, biodiversity, and resource efficiency, as well as collaborative efforts needed to scale these solutions across the value chain.

“Sustainability and innovation must go hand in hand with profitability to ensure scalability and efficiency,” says David Hernández, Vice President of Global Procurement, Grupo Bimbo. 

Sustainability in food systems is a broad topic due to the diverse operations within the sector. Key challenges include reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, optimizing water use, improving social impact, enhancing carbon capture, and restoring soil health. Addressing these issues requires changes in agricultural techniques, improved resource efficiency, and the adoption of innovative technologies such as precision farming, regenerative agriculture, and climate-resilient crops.

The most widely used technique in the agricultural sector is regenerative agriculture, which is perceived as an efficient way to restore soil fertility and biomass. This technique also offers broader environmental and social benefits. Healthier soils with fewer disturbances have greater potential for carbon capture, while also improving water retention and significantly reducing erosion in semi-arid regions prone to extreme rainfall events.

Regenerative agriculture follows four key principles: minimizing soil disturbance, enhancing fertility with green manure instead of agrochemicals, maintaining continuous soil cover, and diversifying crops through rotations and livestock integration. Common practices include reduced tillage, permanent soil cover, organic amendments like compost and manure, and landscape measures such as infiltration trenches, terraces, and hedgerows to improve water retention and biodiversity.

According to the UN, regenerative agriculture could help restore a portion of the 2 billion ha of degraded land through tree integration, which is essential for reducing deforestation and promoting healthy forest ecosystems.

In addition to regenerative agriculture, multiple companies are promoting initiatives aimed at prioritizing sustainability in their operations. For example, Heineken Mexico is committed to respecting the environment and giving back what it consumes. The company currently  has a program that facilitates technology transfer to producers, enabling them to reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining profitability in production, explains Miguel Esquivel, Director of Plant and National Barley Production, HEINEKEN México.

Meanwhile, Grupo Bimbo has implemented systems to monitor soil health, working with various technologies to gain a comprehensive understanding of its condition. The company also utilizes technological platforms to measure the efficiency of its agricultural practices and track its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. As part of its sustainability strategy, Grupo Bimbo is adopting more sustainable pesticides and developing and selecting wheat and corn varieties that are more resistant to drought or require fewer fertilizers, explains Hernández. 

Addressing Water Challenges 

More than 86% of a Mexican’s water footprint comes from food and beverages. This issue can be addressed from different fronts, and companies are implementing technological tools and conservation initiatives. Some have introduced rainwater harvesting systems in nearby communities to improve water access, while others focus on forest conservation to protect aquifer recharging. Other companies are looking to enhance waste recycling and improve efficiency to reduce environmental impact. 

Efforts to minimize water consumption include the use of UV light treatment and filtration for water treatment, reducing water consumption by up to 50% and energy use by 67%. The inclusion of sensors and specialized software with data-driven solutions also helps producers to identify inefficiencies and optimize operations, further reducing water waste. 

Challenges to Achieve a Sustainable Food System 

Despite the benefits of technology and regenerative agriculture, these approaches face significant challenges, particularly for small-scale Mexican producers who may struggle to secure the necessary resources for sustainability. Although the sector is committed to driving change, various obstacles are preventing its full transformation.

“The challenges are significant and multifaceted, ranging from regulatory frameworks to access to capital. While the transformation will take years, closer collaboration among all stakeholders will facilitate the adoption and transfer of best practices,” says Esteban Silva, CEO and Founder, Cervecería de Colima.

One of the primary obstacles for small farmers is the lack of access to timely financial instruments, explained Diego Montenegro, Representative in Mexico and Special Affairs and Coordinator for the Northern Region, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). Legal frameworks must be adapted to ensure these tools reach this sector. “Incentives should be integrated into the value chain, allowing raw material buyers to reward farmers for sustainable practices, creating benefits for all stakeholders,” says Montenegro.  

One initiative that companies can implement to support small producers in implementing technology is the formation of integrated networks, enabling collaboration across production cycles to share costs rather than bearing them individually.  Additionally, reducing technology costs for farmers remains a key priority, which can be achieved through cost-sharing agreements with other companies, adds Esquivel.

While the widespread adoption of sustainable practices depends on institutional support, the lack of a strong rule of law limits small producers' access to opportunities, according to Miguel Angel Curiel, Vice President and General Manager Mexico, Driscoll's. Issues such as theft, organized crime, and extortion further hinder progress. 

“While the government has made efforts to address these challenges, building a solid and reliable legal framework will take time. Strengthening the rule of law is critical to ensuring that small farmers can benefit from new technologies and financial support,” says Curiel.