AI and Nature: Two Pillars of Water Resilience: Insights from the Venice Biennale 2025
EIA President and NetafimTM Director in Europe Moshi Berenstein speaks at the Venice Biennale 2025
On 1 October 2025, the European Irrigation Association (EIA) joined global thought leaders at the Biennale di Venezia, as part of the GENS Public Program: Land Policy Innovation in an Era of Adaptation.
The event—organized by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy—brought together experts from Europe and the U.S. to discuss how artificial intelligence and nature-based solutions are reshaping the way we manage water and land under climate stress.
The two thematic panels brought together an exceptional group of speakers: Julie Bushell, CEO Ethos Connected and President of the U.S. Irrigation Association; Friso Klapwijk, One Architecture & Urbanism; Simone Pelissetti, Up to Farm (University of Turin); and
Moshi Berenstein, President of the EIA and Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships, Netafim Europe. Moderated by John Farner of the Lincoln Institute, the sessions reflected the Biennale’s theme of interdisciplinary collaboration for climate adaptation.
Panel 1 – Smarter water management with AI
“AI doesn’t replace the intelligence of farmers; it complements it.”
Moshi highlighted that Europe is the fastest-warming continent, with agriculture facing the dual challenge of less water and more climate extremes. Yet, data-driven precision irrigation can turn that challenge into opportunity.
He described AI as the current revolution in agriculture—a practical tool to make water use smarter, more predictive, and more equitable.
At the core lies precision irrigation, a system that already collects vast amounts of data from soil sensors, satellites, and weather models. AI translates that data into daily decisions—when, where, and how much to irrigate—maximizing both yield and sustainability.
Showcasing Netafim’s GrowSphere™ platform, an AI-driven “operating system” for water and nutrient management, he highlighted how AI integrates sensors, weather models, and automation to deliver water and nutrients precisely where needed. The goal, he said, is not only to improve efficiency but to build resilience:
- moving from advice to autonomous irrigation systems
- scaling from individual fields to entire watersheds
- shifting from efficiency gains to ecosystem services, such as cooling cities, stabilizing soils, and recharging aquifers.
“AI in irrigation,” he concluded, “will enable every farmer—large or small—to access expert decision-making and deliver water services that benefit entire communities.”
Panel 2 – Designing with Nature
“Precision Irrigation as an Enabler of Green Infrastructure. Water is infrastructure, not a constraint.”
In the second discussion, Moshi turned to the urban dimension of water management. He argued that the same intelligence transforming agriculture can also help cities adapt to floods, droughts, and heatwaves.
“Precision irrigation is not just about efficiency—it’s a design tool for living infrastructure,” he said. Soil, plants, and trees are natural hydrologic assets that store, cool, and filter water. By delivering water precisely to their roots, irrigation becomes the control system for resilient ecosystems—from parks and tramways to rooftops and green corridors.
He urged city planners to adopt water budgets—like energy budgets—to balance inflows, outflows, and storage. He also called for integrating irrigation into planning codes and adaptation strategies, noting successful examples in Barcelona, Milan, Berlin, and Paris, where reclaimed water and smart irrigation are already enhancing urban resilience.
The message was clear: irrigation must move from invisible to indispensable—embedded in policies, modeled in BIM, and valued for the multiple benefits it provides:
- Water and energy savings up to 40%
- Cooler microclimates and healthier soils
- Reduced pollution and runoff
- Enhanced biodiversity and livable public spaces
A Shared Vision
Across both panels, the EIA emphasized a unifying vision:
AI and precision irrigation are not separate revolutions, they are complementary forces. Together, they enable Europe to manage water more wisely, restore ecosystems, and design with nature for a resilient future.
“Farmers and cities alike are becoming designers of natural infrastructure.
Our task now is to connect policy, technology, and practice—to make water visible, measurable, and valued.”
A lively exchange between Julie Bushell and Moshi Berenstein underscored the need for a growing transatlantic dialogue between the U.S. and European irrigation associations—both committed to promoting digital, efficient, and responsible water use.
