On September 28–29, 2026, the European Irrigation Association (EIA) brought together irrigation professionals, European policymakers, financial institutions and environmental organisations in Brussels to discuss the industry's future and its contribution to Europe's Water Resilience Strategy.
The first day focused on industry trends, market challenges and the outlook for 2027. Manufacturers and distributors highlighted growing demand for precision irrigation, digital technologies, sensors and integrated water-management solutions. However, investment costs, regulatory uncertainty, limited access to water and insufficient professional training remain major obstacles to market development.
A central message emerged: the industry must move beyond selling equipment towards delivering measurable water-efficiency performance. Discussions also emphasised the growing importance of wastewater reuse, water storage and sustainable urban greening.
The day continued with the Irrigazette editorial committee, the EIA General Assembly and an advocacy workshop focused on strengthening the industry's representation within European institutions.
The meetings were punctuated by numerous coffee breaks during which participants were able to chat and get to know one another. In the evening, all industry stakeholders gathered at a traditional Brussels restaurant for a convivial dinner;
Bringing irrigation to the heart of EU water policy
The second day featured a high-level roundtable bringing together representatives of the European Commission, European Parliament, European Investment Bank, irrigation industry and environmental organisations.
Discussions focused on the EU's ambition to improve water-use efficiency by at least 10% by 2030 and the conditions required to accelerate precision irrigation deployment.
Participants agreed that technologies already exist, but their wider adoption requires greater investment, professional training, coherent regulations and scientifically validated performance indicators.
The roundtable reinforced a fundamental message: precision irrigation must be recognised not simply as water-consuming equipment, but as an integrated water-management solution contributing to food security, climate adaptation and Europe's water resilience.
The Irrigation Days concluded with a visit to ZIN, a major urban redevelopment project in Brussels. Together with BALA, participants explored how integrated irrigation, vegetation, and greenhouses can help bring nature into a dense urban environment.
For the EIA, the priority is now to translate European policy ambitions into concrete investments, measurable results and stronger cooperation between industry and policymakers.
Read more about the EIA :
EIA - European Irrigation Association - EIA
