Capo d’Orlando (ME), February 11, 2025 – Irritec, a global leader in precision irrigation, participated in the EU Roundtable on Sustainable Irrigation, organized by the European Irrigation Association (EIA) in collaboration with The European House – Ambrosetti (TEHA).
The event, held in Brussels on January 28, highlighted the strategic role of irrigation in sustainable water resource management, enhancing agricultural productivity, and ensuring food security. Among the key participants was Gregorio Davila Diaz, Deputy Head of Unit for Environmental Sustainability – DG Agri, European Commission, whose presence underscored the EU’s commitment to efficient water management.
For the first time, companies from the irrigation sector presented a united front to European institutions, emphasizing the need for regulatory recognition of sustainable irrigation. Giulia Giuffrè, CSO and Board Member of Irritec, spoke in her capacity as an EIA Board Member, sharing both the association’s ongoing initiatives and Irritec’s vision.
During the event, the Position Paper titled “Sustainable Irrigation – Focus on the Framework of the EU Taxonomy” was presented, advocating for the inclusion of irrigation in the EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance (Reg. EU 2020/852), recognizing its contribution to the environmental goals of the European Green Deal.
The Position Paper is the result of a collaborative effort of EIA member companies, who combined their resources and expertise to draft the document, with the support of The European House – Ambrosetti (TEHA). Irritec played a key role in its development, with Giulia Giuffrè leading the “Sustainability in Agriculture” working group and Giusy Inferrera from Irritec’s Sustainability Team coordinating the EU Taxonomy project. This joint effort helped define clear criteria to recognize irrigation as a strategic activity in the ecological transition.
"Agriculture accounts for the majority of global freshwater consumption, making it crucial to intervene along the agri-food supply chain. Through this initiative, we aim to make people as aware as possible of how relevant the irrigation sector is for farming sustainability and water resilience for all sectors" said Giulia Giuffrè.
Precision irrigation is one of the most effective solutions for addressing the global water crisis, capable of reducing water consumption by up to 50% and increasing crop productivity by up to 90%, thanks to advanced technologies such as fertigation systems and IoT-based water resource management tools.
The Roundtable also highlighted the pivotal role of farmers and urban green keepers in sustainable water management, stressing the need to provide not only financial incentives but also training and tools to optimize water use. A key topic of discussion was the reuse of wastewater, an untapped strategic opportunity hindered by outdated infrastructure and limited awareness, yet essential for more efficient and resilient water management.
The debate further focused on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the forthcoming EU Water Resilience Strategy, which is built around three main objectives: ensuring access to clean water, fostering a water-smart European economy, and protecting and restoring aquatic ecosystems. The event concluded with the reaffirmation of the Position Paper’s key recommendations, including integrating sustainable irrigation into EU regulatory frameworks, promoting a Global Alliance among water sector stakeholders, developing a recognized certification system, and creating a global label for sustainable irrigation to quantify sustainability in agri-food products and landscapes – that is in both public and private green spaces.
For Irritec and all stakeholders involved, the challenge lies in ensuring that sustainable irrigation technologies and practices are embedded in regulatory and financial systems, accelerating the transition towards more resilient agriculture and landscaping that respects water resources.
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