Rome, 6 June. (Adnkronos) – Water is a fundamental resource for the well-being of man and the planet. But not only that, because for the Italian economy it generates an overall added value of 367.5 billion euros in 2022 (considering extended water cycle, indirect and induced impact, economic management and water as a production input). A fundamental asset for around 1.8 million businesses in Italy, a country in second place in Europe for withdrawals intended for agriculture, immediately after Spain. The primary sector is in fact the first sector for water withdrawals (56% in the period 2015-2019): it consumes on average 4,460 cubic meters per hectare and returns 93.7% of water. The data were released today in Rome as part of the event ‘Water Management in the agro-industry, for responsible management of resources’ promoted by Agronetwork, Confagricoltura and Heineken Italia, in the presence of Mayor Gualtieri and the extraordinary national commissioner for Drought , Nicola Dall’Acqua.
The conference highlighted the results achieved by the agroindustry but also objectives and opportunities to be seized in a context of climate change, drought and water losses, currently equal to 8.9 billion cubic metres. In 2022 alone, Italy recorded losses in municipal drinking water distribution networks for 42.4% of the water put into the network: an amount capable of satisfying the water needs of 43.4 million people (Istat, 2024 ). Fundamental for this are the resources of the Pnrr (900 million for the maintenance of the distribution network), the maintenance of large old reservoirs, the incentives for companies and consortia to innovate the network, the recovery of rainwater, the use of renewable energy , the return of water to the environment.
“It is important that entrepreneurs, sector experts and institutional representatives can discuss the conscious use of resources. Water, in particular, is a precious and fundamental asset for agriculture and the agri-food sector, which is a national excellence. – declared the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto Fratin – Unfortunately the territory is threatened by climate change and water has become the new emergency. My commitment as Minister of the Environment and Energy Security is to rationalize the water system because in Italy there are 2391 managers and it is therefore necessary to also implement the irrigation system with techniques that consume as little as possible and increase the reuse of water. We need to build new dams and make rainwater collection areas to release it in times of drought and avoid damage when it rains too much. Our plan for adaptation to climate change indicates the necessary actions, 361, and they must be varied according to the needs of the various territories. At the G7 in Venaria we also raised awareness among other countries and for the first time the forum committed itself to establishing a coalition on water. Only through synergistic collaboration between all the actors involved will we be able to successfully face this epochal challenge. Today’s discussion represents an excellent starting point for the more responsible management of the water resources complex, also for the agri-food sector”.
For Sara Farnetti, president of Agronetwork, specialist in Internal Medicine and expert in Functional Nutrition: “Sustainability is a circular concept: what is good for our body also benefits the environment in which we live. Water is a vital resource for the Planet as it is for the human body. It’s good to know how to use it.”
“The efficient management of water is an indispensable asset for the primary sector – added the vice-president of Confagricoltura, Sandro Gambuzza – Today, in fact, agricultural businesses have to deal with extreme climatic phenomena: drought, on the one hand, floods and floods, on the other. For this reason, high-performance irrigation infrastructures, which allow water storage and dosage and strategies to combat dispersion, represent an absolute priority, to the benefit of businesses and the entire community, guaranteeing economic benefits and limiting environmental impact. From this perspective, Confagricoltura has long promoted initiatives that aim at innovation, for an increasingly circular and resilient agriculture”.
In this context, companies are investing in research and innovation to exploit all the useful tools available capable of mitigating the impact of climate change on their activities, also in view of the objectives set by the 2030 Agenda.
Among the best practices illustrated during the day, that of Heineken Italia, the leading beer producer in the country (over 7.1 million hectoliters produced in the 4 breweries in the area), which confirms the path started more than 10 years ago for water saving . Over the last year, thanks to the efficiency measures implemented, the company has cut 3.8 million hectoliters of water in its 4 breweries in 2023 (-13% on 2022), the equivalent of 138 Olympic swimming pools. The four Heineken breweries in Italy are confirmed in 2023 as green excellences in the Group’s production landscape in Europe, in first place for reducing water consumption, and among the top countries in terms of reducing CO2 emissions. With 58 breweries in 22 countries, Heineken produces one in every five beers opened on the Old Continent. Since starting its journey in 2010, the Group has reduced water consumption per hectoliter of beer produced by 57%, with a total of 12.8 million hectoliters saved.
“For over 10 years, Heineken has placed sustainability at the center of its strategies, which is a priority for the company on a global level – states Alfredo Pratolongo, director of Communication and Institutional Affairs of Heineken Italia – The results are the result of a constant commitment to scope of our ‘Brew a Better World’ Sustainability plan. As Heineken Italia we are accelerating to achieve ambitious objectives by 2030: eliminating CO2 emissions in production and working on efficiency to reduce water consumption in all our breweries, going from approximately 3.5 to 2.9 hectoliters of water per hectoliter of beer produced. The Brew a Better World sustainability plan acts on many areas, not only environmental, but also social and the promotion of responsible consumption. The objective is to actively contribute to safeguarding the world we live in, making respectful use of the resources it offers us. Resources that are not infinite just like water, which is essential for us to protect.”
For Daniele Rossi, general secretary of Agronetwork “the picture that has emerged today indicates how much the system of agricultural and industrial companies, research and the competent authorities are aware not only of the needs for better management and saving of water resources but also of the new technologies that can be applied to water management. Some of these see the European dimension as very active, as well expressed for example by the directive on reuse water. However, unfortunately, many others still suffer from the absence of a harmonized or even unnecessarily restrictive regulatory framework, as in the case of TEA. It is also necessary to raise even more awareness in the downstream chain of agri-food production, namely Ho.Re.Ca and consumers, so that the water savings produced upstream are not subsequently wasted”.
