Caridad Benítez
Head of Sustainability, Citrofrut
Introduction
Citrofrut is an agroindustrial company under Grupo Proeza, which manages a diverse business portfolio. With over 60 years of experience, Citrofrut is a leader in Mexico's agroindustry, specializing in producing and processing fruits. The company transforms these fruits into products, including concentrated and fresh juices, essences, fragrances, essential oils, and pulp. Additionally, orange peel is utilized for pectin extraction and livestock fodder.
Citrofrut aims to offer products sustainably, generating social, environmental, and economic value, based on a solid humanistic culture, becoming an agent of positive change in agribusiness in Mexico. As a result, sustainability is integral to Citrofrut's identity, serving as a core element of its overarching strategy and a crucial driver of growth. The company’s sustainability strategy is driven by the CEO, Luis Lazaro, who is a passionate sustainability leader. The strategy integrates water sustainability in four critical pillars named “4Ps”: Principles of Governance, People, Planet, and Prosperity.
“Water is the future. We aim for an integral approach that not only considers our business and the water consumed, but the big picture, including the supply chain, our customers, the community, and the environment.” - Caridad Benítez, Head of Sustainability, Citrofrut.
Technology solutions for real-world water challenges
Citrofrut partnered with Waterplan to tackle challenges in gathering and centralizing water data, analyzing local water risks in depth, and establishing water targets and a plan to achieve them.
Gathering & centralizing multiple water risk data sources
Access to reliable local water data is crucial for making informed decisions and setting accurate targets. However, there is a lack of publicly available data about local watersheds in certain parts of Mexico where Citrofrut operates. Gathering this data locally involves using multiple sources, engaging external and internal stakeholders, and requires significant time and specific water expertise.
Waterplan provided a centralized platform that collects, consolidates, and monitors different dimensions of external local water risks and Citrofrut’s internal maturity to address the risks in two locations, one where there is a manufacturing plant and the other where there is agriculture activity. By combining external information on water availability, quality, flooding, infrastructure, reputation, and regulatory dynamics within each region with Citrofrut’s internal data on water usage, discharges, plans, etc., Waterplan enabled Citrofrut to conduct thorough assessments of local water risks for these two different operations. This integrated approach improved the accuracy and reliability of the data and simplified the analysis and interpretation of complex water risk factors.
"Waterplan’s technology has enabled us to track and centralize our water data, understand our water risks better, and identify areas of high water risk." – José Alfredo Vences, Environmental Coordinator, Citrofrut.
"Waterplan's support in providing data on watershed behavior, aquifer availability reports, short-, medium-, and long-term weather forecasts, water management efficiency studies, and strategies to reduce evaporation is crucial. Together, we can develop strategies that enhance the sustainability of the agroecosystem." - Martín Augusto Díaz, Fresh Fruit Coordinator at Citrofrut.
Establishing context-based water targets based on data
Waterplan’s water risk framework enabled a local assessment of water risks in Citrofrut’s manufacturing site pilot, Paso Largo Plant. Insights from this analysis and Waterplan’s expertise were used as the starting point to establish appropriate water targets for each location. Context-Based Water Targets are differentiated based on the specific situation of the site, the local watershed, and the social and regulatory dynamics, focusing not only on quantitative targets related to reduction of consumption and impact on the environment but also on mitigation of the identified risks. This is particularly important for agricultural sites because the analysis needs to consider the current and future health of the local watershed.
As a result, Citrofrut has established water targets for 2 of its sites and plans to continue defining targets for its remaining sites to implement a holistic water strategy.
“Establishing context-based water targets that are based on accurate, reliable data is only possible with technology, and Waterplan’s technology enables us to establish targets that are specific to the conditions of the manufacturing site and the local watershed.” - Caridad Benítez, Head of Sustainability, Citrofrut.
Stakeholder alignment
Understanding the local situation of different facilities before establishing the targets is critical to achieving alignment between corporate and facility teams. This means considering their specific needs, processes, challenges, and priorities. This approach enables success because the teams are involved in developing the water strategy and understand the impact it can have on mitigating the water risks they are exposed to.
Waterplan's data-driven insights and integrated approach helped make informed decisions that will benefit both facility and corporate teams. Additionally, with transparent data and assumptions, Waterplan showcased how water risks can evolve, their potential impact on the facility and the community, and the interconnectedness between water usage and operational outcomes.
“With Waterplan, I’ve witnessed increased alignment among the technical teams at our manufacturing plants with Citrofrut’s water stewardship initiatives. They now understand our water exposure risks better and appreciate our strategy's positive influence on our operations.” - Caridad Benítez, Head of Sustainability, Citrofrut.
Streamlining sustainability reporting processes
Gathering water data from multiple stakeholders, consolidating it, and structuring it to fit the format of various sustainability reports is a time-intensive process that demands meticulous attention to detail. Coordinating with different teams or organizations to collect relevant data points can be challenging due to varying data formats, reporting standards, and timelines.
“We spend a lot of time developing different types of reports in different formats, such as internal reports, CDP, etc. Waterplan enables us to streamline the reporting process, especially by providing the required water data.” - Caridad Benítez, Head of Sustainability, Citrofrut.
Takeaways
The strategic collaboration between Citrofrut and Waterplan represents an innovative approach to water stewardship. It leverages technology to measure local water risks effectively, establish appropriate context-based water targets, and align the company on the water sustainability strategy. By partnering with Waterplan, Citrofrut makes significant progress in its water sustainability strategy and sets an example for other companies.
"In conclusion, the future of water is not merely about sustenance; it is a fundamental determinant of humanity's survival. As we stand at a critical juncture, it is imperative to recognize the vital role of the corporate sector in water preservation. By embracing sustainable business practices, corporations can drive significant change, ensuring equitable access to clean water for generations to come. We shouldn’t underestimate the importance of this responsibility because by safeguarding our planet's most precious resource, we protect the very essence of life itself." - Caridad Benítez, Head of Sustainability, Citrofrut.
