What does Eficagua do?

What does Eficagua do? Eficagua is a Chilean company, founded by Cristian Estrada, that integrates technology, biotechnology, and knowledge to optimize water use in agriculture. Its mission is to demonstrate how it is possible to produce better with less water than what is currently consumed in agriculture — which represents an average of 70% of all water consumed by human activities worldwide. Ranch context With a cultivated area of 118 hectares of pecan under sprinkler irrigation, with trees aged between 4 and 13 years, and planting densities between 69 and 139 trees per hectare, the ranch had been affected by a drought of a magnitude not seen since 1995. According to CONAGUA, by mid-2025, drought durations of between 25 and 36 months had been reported, depending on the municipality in Chihuahua. However, starting in late June 2025, rainfall returned, accumulating over 400 mm during the season. In this hydrological context, the ranch subsists primarily thanks to its groundwater sources, with a water table at 120 meters deep. The main challenge is optimizing water use, given that the trend in groundwater availability is also declining. The proposal To conduct a comparison across 3 plots of 10 hectares each, with pecans of the same age, in order to evaluate how harvest results could be affected by improved irrigation management and better soil conditions. Conditions to compare: 10 Ha — no applications, soil monitored to evaluate results 10 Ha — soil monitored to fine-tune irrigation management, plus 1 input used to improve the physical condition of the soil (Promesol, Innovak). 10 Ha — soil monitored to fine-tune irrigation management, 1 input used to improve the physical condition of the soil (Promesol, Innovak), and 1 input used to enhance the microbiological condition of the soil (Biofit, Innovak). An additional 3 plots would be monitored to generate an irrigation management baseline. The beginning Technology integration began in late June, with 6 Camponectado units installed across 6 of the 11 pecan plots defined on the ranch. The configuration of irrigated plots and the linking of sensors to the Reggante application was carried out during July. Soil texture analyses were performed for each plot, and crop context parameters were configured to calibrate the digital twin generated by Reggante. The integration of soil biotechnologies (Promesol and Biofit, by Innovak) was carried out during August. The follow-up A total of 17 visits were conducted between June and December 2025, aimed at training the operations team on the use of Reggante and evaluating the irrigation system across different plots. Additionally, during visits, changes in the crop context were recorded to perform calibrations in Reggante. Changes to the irrigation plan could not be implemented, due to the rainfall received by the ranch, and secondly, because the rain triggered vigorous weed growth that began to impede sprinkler irrigation — making weed control a priority and highly demanding task. To complement, work was also carried out to correct irrigation system performance and rehabilitate irrigation infrastructure. The harvest For the representative harvest results, 3 pecan trees per condition were identified and tagged, of similar size, for a total of 9 trees across 30 hectares. Harvesting was performed using a mechanical shaker with manual collection, exclusively of the fraction that fell to the ground. Harvest volume included pecans with husk (dried soft shell). Results were adjusted by trunk diameter, and the estimated husk weight fraction was deducted from the final results. Results The soil condition treated to improve its physical and biological quality showed the best result, despite the application having been made past the midpoint of the season and despite starting from the worst initial soil condition — considering compaction levels. Overall, the harvest obtained per pecan tree, at 13 years of age, was estimated between 14.9 and 17.7 kg. The baseline condition reached a blue water footprint (liters irrigated per 1 kg of marketable harvest) of 9,226 L/kg, while the improved soil condition reached a blue water footprint of 8,686 L/kg of pecan — that is, 6% less water irrigated per kg of pecan. Pecan quality was uniform across the 3 evaluated conditions, averaging 58% nut weight relative to the in-shell pecan. Finally, comparing the best result achieved against the global blue water footprint benchmark of 9,280 L/kg, the result was more efficient, achieving 1 kg of pecan with 6.5% less water. However, more efficient results have been reported in Mexico, such as the Valdés System, which is reaching a figure close to 2,000 L/kg — meaning it is achieving the same kilogram of pecan with 79% less water than the global average. Put another way, with the same volume of water irrigated, the Valdés System can generate more than 4.5 times the pecan yield compared to the global benchmark. Additionally, 14 actionable improvement suggestions were delivered to continue advancing in water efficiency.