Creating a Ripple Effect Towards a Water-Secure Future

This World Water Week, the urgency of addressing global water scarcity has never been clearer.

Projections indicate an 80% likelihood that the 1.5°C global temperature threshold set by the Paris Agreement will be breached at least once in the next five years. The Middle East, where I am based, is at the epicenter of this crisis, warming up at twice the global average.

This year’s #WorldWaterWeek theme, Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future, highlights a collective responsibility to better use, reuse, and protect the world’s water supply – a responsibility that we at PepsiCo take very seriously.

I am proud to share some of the progress we have made across the Middle East in advancing water management:

Since 2022, we've rolled out an advanced irrigation technology program in Saudi Arabia, providing training to farmers in the Wadi Dawasir region. This initiative has enabled seven farmers to conserve 585 million liters of water on their farms—equivalent to the water usage at our Riyadh plant and about 65% of our snacks business's total water consumption in the country. In the following year, we expanded the program to three date farmers in AlAhsa, helping them save an amount of water equivalent to our Dammam plant's annual usage. By the end of 2024, our goal is to achieve a 100% water savings in both our Dammam and Riyadh plants, significantly contributing to the replenishment of local watersheds.

Lebanon stands as a beacon of innovation in our commitment to water sustainability. Our Aquafina plant is transitioning to full reliance on solar power, significantly reducing carbon emissions. We have also expanded our water replenishment efforts by adding three new artificial ponds in the Shouf Reserve, increasing our capacity to 2,600 m3, and achieving a 34% replenishment rate, supporting local communities, agriculture, and the surrounding ecosystem.

At PepsiCo Middle East , we are dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture. Our goal is to improve water-use efficiency in our agricultural supply chain by 40% by 2030. To achieve this, we're partnering with our potato suppliers, local farmers, irrigation experts, and energy solution providers to implement global best practices in technology and innovation.

While water scarcity is particularly acute in regions like the Gulf, it’s one that will increasingly impact the rest of the world. I believe that innovation and collaboration are key to securing a sustainable future.

The region holds immense potential, from startups developing decentralized solar-powered water systems to companies using AI to optimize water usage in agriculture. However, the current level of investment in climate and agri-tech startups in the region needs additional assistance to scale these solutions. That’s why at PepsiCo, we are committed to supporting these innovators through initiatives like the Mega Green Accelerator , helping to turn today’s ideas into tomorrow’s solutions.

We have both the opportunity and the responsibility to contribute meaningfully toward a water-secure future. By supporting local farmers in their transition to sustainable agriculture and equipping them with the necessary tools and technologies to adopt water-wise practices, we can create a ripple effect that reaches beyond our own operations.

Our focus is clear: to ensure that water is managed sustainably, remains accessible, and is safe for all. This #WorldWaterWeek, water scarcity is more than just a challenge - it’s a call to take concrete action.