MED-Amin network

Parts of southern Italy and other countries in the region are experiencing one of their worst droughts in decades. The authorities say they are working to at least save tourism.

"Severe lack of rain and poor maintenance of irrigation facilities have led to water rationing affecting more than 800,000 citizens.
Sicily has declared a state of emergency as the region experiences its worst drought in almost 20 years. 
A lack of winter rainfall after last year's hot summer has left supplies running low. Experts say it could be the third worst water crisis ever recorded on the island. Reservoirs are drying up, water is being rationed and farmers are reporting failed crops. "

In every corner of Italy, tractors leave the fields to gather in the squares of the most important Italian cities. After taking shape in Germany in the very first days of the year, the primary sector protest quickly spread to France and almost the rest of the European Union. The reasons are now known: increased fuel prices, damage from bad weather or plant diseases that have never been compensated (or only partially compensated), competition from non-European countries, no to synthetic or insect-based food.

Italy's Industry Minister Adolfo Urso called on Thursday for a crisis meeting over prices for pasta, the country's favourite staple, after they jumped by more than double the national inflation rate.

Scientists say more needs to be done to adapt, from wastewater recycling to planting less water-intensive crops.

Italy’s Bank of the Lands and Ismea, the Insti­tute of Ser­vices for the Agri­cul­tural Food Mar­ket, have raised much more atten­tion than they expected from young farm­ers seek­ing lands and busi­nesses to cul­ti­vate.
Ismea, the insti­tu­tion behind the ini­tia­tive, noted that in the last few months, 1,709 of what are called ​“new gen­er­a­tion farm­ers” have applied to buy farm­ing lots, groves and fields placed on the mar­ket by the bank.

"Farmers' losses exceed €1 billion, according to a consortium.
In the last six months of 2023, only 150 millimetres of rain fell on Sicily, the Italian island that is twice the size of some countries.
A few months later, the region's government declared a state of emergency due to the drought. Experts warned it could be the third worst water crisis the island has ever seen.

With swathes of the population, and the economy, reliant on agriculture, a lack of water is has widespread consequences."

Along with protecting Italy’s natural landscapes and promoting the cultivation of traditional crops, the law seeks to curb the rural exodus with economic incentives.

Fifty-eight per­cent of Italian tourists in 2023 are choos­ing hol­i­day des­ti­na­tions linked with food expe­ri­ences, a 37 per­cent increase from 2016, a new report has found.
The trend ben­e­fits olive millers and farm­houses, offer­ing tourists olive oil-related expe­ri­ences.

A major UN report recently warned that water supplies around the world are at increasing risk from “vampiric overconsumption”.
Europe has been in drought since 2018, according to a recent study from the Graz University of Technology in Austria. Researchers say the water situation is now “very precarious”.
Countries across the continent have been struggling with water even through winter. Low rain and snowfall mean already dwindling supplies haven’t been restored during this typically wet period.

Last month, residents of Boretto in northern Italy discovered that the wide stretch of the Po River, running just to the north of their small town, had transformed into a beach.
The pale golden sand extended for around 10 metres towards the centre of the river and inhabitants took advantage of the newly formed terrain to take a stroll and walk their dogs.
In other areas, the water level dropped so low that the remains of a tank from WWII were revealed and the ruined walls of a medieval town emerged.

Olive Oil Times, 11/05 - After seven weeks of a lock­down, things aren’t get­ting any eas­ier for Sicil­ian farm­ers. Now they face two new adver­saries: a sales slump and a drought. Olive oil sales, in gen­eral, have been robust dur­ing the COVID-19 lock­down, but this has not ben­e­fited pro­duc­ers of Sicil­ian extra vir­gin olive oil. Con­sumers are leav­ing their prod­ucts on the shelves in favour of cheaper blends made from imported oils, mostly from Spain and Tunisia...