04 Water scarcity is no longer a distant threat—it’s a defining force shaping the future of agriculture. Few companies are confronting that reality as directly as Kilimo, an international water‑stewardship technology firm that began in Argentina and now operates across some of the most stressed watersheds in the United States. With teams working in California and Texas, Kilimo’s model connects farmers seeking better water management with corporations trying to meet ambitious water‑security commitments. “We bridge the gap between water security investors and farmers,” explained Sami Tellatin, Kilimo’s Head of Water & Climate Solutions, in a recent interview with Farms.com. “Our job is to support conservation efforts in some of the world’s most critical watersheds.” Tellatin’s role sits at the intersection of engineering, finance, and policy, but her grounding comes from hands‑on agricultural work. Before joining Kilimo, she co‑founded FarmRaise, a platform that helps producers access capital, and spent years working on farms in Missouri and Costa Rica. “Being out in the field, building water and soil systems, is what really cemented my commitment to support projects that actually work,” she said. Kilimo’s approach blends technology with economic incentives. Its AI‑driven platform integrates climate, soil, and satellite data to give farmers precise irrigation recommendations. But Tellatin stressed that the technology is only part of the equation. “Farmers are naturally the best water stewards out there,” she stated. “Our job is just to give them the tools and the financial incentives to verify and scale the good work they’re already committed to.” That work is becoming more urgent. The United Nations recently warned of a “water post‑crisis reality,” and even “global water bankruptcy,” language Tellatin believes farmers should take seriously. “We’ve moved past the idea of a temporary drought that we just have to ‘wait out,’” Tellatin commented. “We’re living in a new reality where we’ve collectively spent more water than the environment can replenish.” KILIMO’S DATA‑DRIVEN PUSH TO SECURE WATER FOR THE FARMS OF THE FUTURE As water scarcity intensifies across North and South America, Kilimo is building a bridge between farmers and corporations to restore stressed watersheds. ANDREW JOSEPH FARMS.COM Water flowing from an irrigation pipe into a farm canal is a reminder of the growing pressure on North and South American watersheds. Companies like Kilimo help producers optimize every drop of water through data‑driven irrigation management.
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