Rice as an advanced indicator of the global climate crisis and increasing pressure on water resources.
This was the main theme of the international conference organized by the Italian Permanent Representation entitled “Every drop counts…
Environmental Sustainability, Technological Innovation and Rice Cultivation,” held at the OECD headquarters in Paris and dedicated to the future of rice cultivation in a context of increasing water scarcity.
Opening the proceedings, Ambassador Luca Sabbatucci, Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Paris, drew attention to the vulnerability of European agricultural systems, emphasizing the strategic role of Italy, which produces about 50 percent of the European Union’s rice. At the event, the OECD presented worrying data on the economic outlook related to water risks. Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, the organization’s Environment Director, highlighted how collaboration with Italy is central to mitigating the effects of ecosystem degradation. According to OECD analyses, drought is already a structural phenomenon in vast areas of the planet and could generate growing economic losses by 2035, with significant impacts also on the rice sector, both in terms of biomass and production yields. Italy is confirmed as a model of resilience and innovation in the management of water resources for rice cultivation, thanks to the peculiar configuration of the Po River basin, fed by water of Alpine origin, and the presence of a historical and sophisticated network of irrigation infrastructure. Riccardo Preve (Riso Gallo SpA) stressed the importance of techniques such as dry sowing to reduce water consumption, while Alice Cerutti (Cascina Oschiena) and Maria Chiara Goio (Riso Goio 1929) illustrated virtuous experiences that combine production quality, biodiversity protection and environmental sustainability. Finally, the conference reiterated that safeguarding rice is not just about agriculture, but represents a global food security challenge. In a world where this cereal forms the basis of food for about half the population, the ability to make its production sustainable will be crucial for the economic and social stability of future generations.
Ansa
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