The EIA held a cocktail party on Thursday 7 November 2024, in the business center of Eima exhibition (Bologna, Italy).

The Eima, event at which Irrigation entire European and international profession comes together every two years, was a great opportunity to organize the EIA annual face-to-face event.

Almost 80 persons, from Europe and the rest of the world, members and not members, attended the cocktail.

It was the opportunity to celebrate all together the strong development of the association for the last 4 years, and the association's various projects for 2025. Four years ago, the association was counting 34 members, against 85 today.

Fleur Martin, the EIA communication officer, wished a warm welcome to the participants and thanked the EIA members for their concerning and participation in the activities of the association, working groups, online forums, board meetings and face to face events. Without them the development of the association won’t have been possible.

Then Moshi Berenstein, the EIA President, started with a summary of activities and achievements 2021-2024, and up-dated the activities and achievement of the 6 WG of the association (Sustainability in agriculture, Urban Landscape, Standardization, Training and knowledge transfer, Wastewater reuse and Communication).  Then, he moved to the Strategic Road Map EIA 2025 and its 5 pilars : 1- Recognize the Irrigation potential in transforming the sector to be recognized as a contributor to sustainability, allowing access to Sustainable finance capital and Green Funds, focus on Taxonomy.

2- Advocacy activities: Institution mapping, Public Consultations, Flagship events, support balanced policies (EU and regions), share information with members, call for members participation.

3- Building Multi-stakeholders Partnerships in the food chain (AG), and with collectivities (Urban Landscape).

4- Building a Knowledge transfer and training framework.

5- Visibility with the aim of communicating and increasing awareness on water conservation, becoming the voice of Irrigation sector.

The presentation was followed by a convivial moment of sharing over a glass of wine and a snack.

This cocktail was also the opportunity to meet – physically this time - experts and irrigation professionals sharing the same concerning.

We know how sustainable the sector can be, join our forces to demonstrate it !

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