Italian agriculture is preparing to face an unprecedented challenge due to the forthcoming entry into force of the European regulation on ecological runoff, scheduled for 2025. According to what was declared by the Piedmontese section of the Anbi (National Association of Irrigation Reclamation), the application of this legislation could lead to a drastic reduction in the amount of water available for agricultural irrigation, putting the country's food security at risk.
European regulation on ecological runoff aims to improve water quality in rivers through greater dilution of pollutants. This means that water basin authorities will have to determine the maximum volume of water that can be withdrawn from rivers, without the possibility of exceptions even in periods of extreme drought such as those experienced in 2022.
Mario Fossati, president of the Est Sesia consortium and director of Anbi Piemonte, underlined the urgency of facing this challenge proactively, highlighting the importance of investing in water infrastructure to improve the performance of purifiers and reduce the quantity of water needed for the pollutant dilution process. Furthermore, Fossati proposed adopting a more flexible approach, based on the specific analysis of watercourses, rather than traditional statistical formulas.
The situation is particularly critical for the regions of Piedmont, where the risk of a 90% decrease in rice production could have serious economic and social consequences. However, not only agriculture is under threat: the fruit growing and tourism sectors could also suffer serious damage due to the reduction of available water resources.
Francesco Vincenzi, national president of the Anbi, underlined the importance of adopting measures that take into account the hydrological specificities of each region, avoiding uniform approaches that could penalize areas with lower river flows.
Italian agriculture is facing an unprecedented challenge, which requires immediate action from the competent authorities and operators in the sector. Only through a collaborative and innovative approach will it be possible to guarantee the country's food security and environmental sustainability in an increasingly uncertain future from a climate point of view.
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