While some impacts of climate change may feel distant, in Argentina they are already re-shaping daily life. In the Gómez Creek basin, water erosion is gradually degrading the land. Crop yields remain stable for now, but projections suggest significant declines in the future if the trend continues – threatening livelihoods and long-term food security.
To tackle this challenge, the Fundación Proiectum Macrillanti (FPM) is working with local farmers to get ahead of the crisis. With support from the UNDP-Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA), the foundation is implementing a data-driven climate resilience plan across 1,990 hectares in the Gómez Creek basin, located in the Entre Ríos province. The initiative focuses on delivering affordable, practical and accessible land management solutions for local producers, designed to both protect the soil and safeguard production.
Gathering data on the farmland in the Gómez Creek basin. Photo: FPM
Understanding the challenges faced in the Gómez Creek basin
The Gómez Creek basin has two main types of landowners: absentee landowners who rent their properties to farmers and live far from the area; and resident farmers, who cultivate the land under temporary tenancy agreements. For many, short-term leases offer little incentive to invest in long-term soil restoration. Current practices – such as direct seeding and low-intensity annual crops – do little to repair degraded soils, while the high cost of preventive measures further discourages action.
“I’ve had problems with direct seeding on the terraced plot, as it is washed away by the water. Although maintenance should be done more frequently, it is sometimes not carried out as often as necessary. Even with good maintenance, there are rains that break all patterns.” – Hector Fischer, landowner and producer in the Gómez Creek basin
Climate change is intensifying these pressures. Heavier rainfall events, coupled with low slopes and increased urbanization, are disrupting natural drainage patterns and reducing the soil’s ability to absorb water. In Argentina, floods cost at least US$700 million annually, with approximately 14.2 million people—one-third of the population—living in flood-prone areas. Alongside flood management, drought mitigation remains critical as rising temperatures, projected to increase by 1.6°C by 2050, put added strain on shared water resources.
Erosion is degrading the soil and altering water absorption in the Gómez Creek basin. Photo: FPM
Using data to raise awareness
To break the cycle of inaction, FPM is turning evidence into action. Using satellite imagery, the foundation is tracking and illustrating the spread of water erosion across the targeted hectares. These visual tools – paired with on-the-ground measurements – make soil degradation visible, transforming it from an abstract concern into an urgent, tangible problem for landowners and producers.
The visuals form the backbone of workshops and seminars, where landowners can see the degradation of their soil firsthand and understand the long-term implications for productivity and livelihoods. This evidence-based approach builds a compelling case for change, making the benefits of preventive measures easier to grasp and harder to ignore.
One of the most effective solutions is systematization: the re-engineering of natural water drainage channels to reduce erosion.
“Systematization aims to largely prevent the formation of ruts or gullies, since rains are now more intense and concentrated in less time. In the future, I hope to see the same benefits as in a plot that was already systematized before. The plot has shown a considerable decrease in erosion and loss of the topsoil layer.” – Fischer
Through the construction of channels and terraces, rainwater slows down, allowing to infiltrate the soil. This approach not only reduces flood risks during storms, but also helps retain soil moisture during dry spells.
Foundation members meeting with landowners on their farms. Photo: FPM
Building capacity and cooperation
Awareness alone is not enough—lasting change requires skills, resources and collaboration. In 2024, FPM brought together landowners to agree on a shared plan of action. Forty-seven family-run smallholder producers received training in soil conservation techniques and began implementing systematization measures on their land.
What started as individual efforts quickly grew into collective action. The foundation noticed that, during the construction of the channels, farmers who had traditionally worked in isolation began collaborating across different plots, sharing machinery and pooling resources. This cooperation helped forge stronger relationships and reduce conflicts over water and land use.
“The benefit will be, first of all, for society. We believe that the benefit goes far beyond something concrete like systematizing a field and building terraces for water and soil management. The benefit exceeds even what we can plan or visualize in the short and medium term.” – Dr. Jorge Jesús Gvozdenovich, agricultural engineer and director of the regional centre Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (National Agricultural Technology Institute) in Entre Ríos.
Ensuring long-term impact
To make systematization more accessible, FPM significantly reduces costs by providing technical studies, design services and on-site guidance. The foundation’s long-term vision extends beyond individual plots, aiming for formal collaboration with government agencies and institutions involved in agricultural production and environmental protection.
This vision took a concrete step forward on 7 July 2024, with the signing of an Inter-institutional Collaboration Agreement. Each partner committed to specific roles, creating a unified platform to scale up soil conservation and water management across the region.
“All the institutions participating in the agreement see it as a unique opportunity to start working collaboratively, selflessly and for a common goal. We hope this changes the way the different actors involved in the same agricultural and agro-industrial system in the Entre Ríos area work. And well, we hope this will be contagious and allow us to continue signing other agreements that have a practical impact on the ground.” – Dr. Gvozdenovich
The initiative’s progress is shared with the public through local radio, TV and newspapers. This outreach fosters community awareness about the importance of sustainable production and environmental stewardship. By strengthening local capacity and knowledge, the project aims to inspire future generations to adopt soil conservation practices—ensuring food security and environmental resilience across Argentina.
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Supported by financial contributions from the Adaptation Fund and the European Union, the UNDP-AFCIA programme has awarded 44 micro and small grants to locally led organizations across 33 countries worldwide, accelerating their innovative solutions to build resilience in the most vulnerable communities.
UNDP-AFCIA is one of two featured programmes under the Adaptation Innovation Marketplace (AIM), a multi-stakeholder strategic platform that promotes scaled-up adaptation at the local level.
