EIA Participates in FruitCREWS Final Event at the European Parliament

The European Irrigation Association (EIA) participated in the final event of the FruitCREWS project, held at the European Parliament in Brussels, where researchers, policymakers, growers, and representatives from across the irrigation sector gathered to discuss the future of water resilience in European agriculture.

The event provided an opportunity to reflect on how research, innovation, and policy can work together to address one of Europe’s most pressing challenges: ensuring sustainable water management in the face of climate change.

Among the key messages emerging from the discussions was the importance of recognising precision irrigation as a practical tool for implementing the “Water Efficiency First” principle outlined in the European Union’s Water Resilience Strategy.

Technologies capable of supporting this transition are already available. Smart irrigation systems, sensors, automation, monitoring platforms, and decision-support tools can significantly improve water efficiency while maintaining agricultural productivity. However, speakers highlighted that the next challenge is not technological development alone, but the integration of these solutions into practical, reliable, and economically viable systems that farmers can adopt with confidence. Demonstrating a clear return on investment and ensuring access to public and private funding will be equally important to accelerate deployment.

For the European Irrigation Association, these discussions reinforce the importance of collaboration across the entire irrigation ecosystem. EIA continues to promote dialogue between policymakers, researchers, manufacturers, irrigation professionals, and farmers, helping translate strategic objectives into practical solutions that deliver measurable improvements in water efficiency and resilience.

The Association thanks the FruitCREWS consortium – particularly Brunella Morandi, Diego Intrigliolo, Virginia Hernandez-Santana, Cristiano Spadoni, and the entire project team – for organising a valuable exchange of knowledge and expertise. Events such as these demonstrate how cooperation between science, policy, and industry can support the transition towards a more resilient and sustainable European agricultural sector.

As Europe advances the implementation of its Water Resilience Strategy, EIA remains committed to supporting evidence-based policies and promoting innovative irrigation solutions that contribute to a more efficient use of water resources across the continent.