Italian Min.: Drought Puts 3rd of Agricultural Production at Risk  

Italian Agriculture Minister Stefano Patuanelli warned that a third of the country's agricultural production is at risk due to drought and poor water infrastructure, and the situation may worsen in the coming years.

Patuanelli presented the latest data from government research institutions, which showed that Italy lost 19 percent of its available water resources from 1991-2020 compared to 1921-1950 and that the coming decades may witness more significant declines of up to 40 percent.

"Therefore, we are witnessing a slow but non-stop waste of water available in our country," Patuanelli said in front of the lower chamber of deputies.

The government had declared a state of emergency in a number of northern regions due to the prolonged drought that accompanied the heat wave that dried up the Po River, an important irrigation artery that runs across north and central Italy, which are major producers of fruits, vegetables, and grains.