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Spain and Italy are committed to sustainable water use
Spain and Italy are Europe's leading fruit and vegetable producers. Together, the two countries produced almost 24 million tonnes of fruit and 18 million tonnes of vegetables last year. "We are the number one producer of fruit in the European Union and seventh in the world. This sector is very important for our exports and the Spanish economy," says Begoña García Bernal, Spain's Secretary of State for Agriculture and Food.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, production in Spain increased by 4.3 per cent in 2024, although the effects of the Dana weather phenomenon with heavy rainfall, strong winds and hail were particularly significant in the province of Valencia. According to the European Statistics Handbook, kaki production in particular is expected to fall by 70 per cent.
Francesco Cera
Challenges for agriculture
As a rule, Spain and Italy have fewer problems with excessive amounts of water. On the contrary. Periods of drought and water shortages have posed ever greater challenges for Europe's leading fruit and vegetable producers in recent years. According to initial projections, the damage caused to Italian agriculture by the consequences of climate change will amount to 8.5 billion euros in 2024.
"Climate change is a problem for agriculture in Italy," says Francesco Cera, General Manager of the Mercato AgroAlimentare di Padova (MAAP). The MAAP is one of the five leading agricultural markets in Italy and is an important centre for the wholesale of fruit and vegetables. In 2024, the market recorded a trading volume of 284,144 tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetable products.
Begoña García Bernal
Sustainable water utilisation
Instead of just naming the problems, many regions are actively working on solutions: "We are trying to organise irrigation better and, most importantly, save water," says Francesco Cera. In Padua, buffer tanks are used to collect and store rainwater. This water can be used for irrigation during dry periods. Such systems enable sustainable water utilisation, especially when rainfall is irregular. Advanced systems such as drip or micro-irrigation and electromagnetic water treatment are also used. These technologies improve the efficiency of water use, reduce the use of fertilisers and promote plant growth.
The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture is also investing to increase the efficiency of water utilisation and to meet the challenges of the drought. State Secretary Begoña García Bernal speaks of 2.8 billion euros. The aim is to reduce water consumption and to improve the irrigation infrastructure. "This is the present and the future of agriculture in Spain," says Begoña García Bernal.