Facing the Water Crisis: Climate Change, Desertification Threats, and Agrifood System Overhaul in Italy

 Italy has witnessed a significant reduction in its water resources over the past 30 years, with a 13% decrease, which amounts to nearly 19 billion cubic meters of water. This is slightly less than the total volume of Lake Garda and roughly two-thirds of the water withdrawn annually for human activities. The main culprit behind this distressing situation is climate change, which coupled with national water withdrawals of over 30 billion cubic meters per year on average, severely exacerbates the water stress experienced by the country.

A study conducted by Greenpeace Italy, using ISTAT-ISPRA data, highlights this alarming issue on World Desertification Day. The data comparison between average annual water availability from 1951-1980 and 1991-2020 clearly indicates the increased water stress and potential threat of desertification, particularly in the Po River Basin. This area has been a heavy consumer of water, and with the decreasing water resources and lack of rainfall, it is suffering the most.

ISTAT's lead researcher, Stefano Tersigni, emphasizes the need to adapt our agricultural practices to the dwindling resources. Over the past 50 years, the agricultural model has proven to be inadequate and not resilient to climate change, necessitating changes in irrigation systems and a shift towards less water-demanding crops and agricultural models.

The report reveals that the Po River Basin, housing Italy's largest rivers and lakes, is experiencing the highest level of water stress (65.6 percent). This is almost double that of South and Island areas, which are historically drought-prone. The cause is primarily the water withdrawn for human activities, with over half of the national withdrawals concentrated in the Po Valley district, where approximately 70 percent of water is used for agriculture.

The study further shows that agricultural practices, particularly intensive agriculture and animal husbandry, need restructuring. Without incorporating agroecological practices, solutions for increasing water availability will remain inadequate. Simona Savini, from Greenpeace Italy's Agriculture campaign, highlights the critical importance of food security, with an estimated 20 percent of Italy's land at risk of becoming infertile. Hence, producing and consuming less meat is a fair trade-off to balance our agrifood system with our water resources.

The report suggests a reduction in water-intensive productions, particularly in intensive livestock systems, and restoration of soil health through set-aside and increasing natural areas within agricultural areas. These measures not only protect biodiversity but also aid in water retention. It's crucial to acknowledge that water stress, along with other impacts of climate change, threaten our economies and societies by potentially increasing inequalities as agricultural commodity prices rise.*