Sustainable Irrigation in Agriculture and Landscape : What does “sustainable irrigation” means?
EIA has proposed a definition in 2023 as part of a reflection on the European Taxonomy.
“Sustainable Irrigation is an ensemble of fair technologies and practices for the increasingly optimized use of water, energy, fertilizers, and other resources for irrigated agriculture, landscape, and ornamentals so that the natural resources are equitably used, for the welfare needs of the present and future generation.”
Making Irrigation more sustainable is a Key Element for Water Resilient Europe project and a way to cope with Climate Change Effects. Tools and methods are proposed by the professionals, the Taxonomy approach is supposed to qualify these solutions in regard to their impacts on 6 objectives: 2 are Climate Change and 4 are Environment oriented. Irrigation is not yet considered in European Taxonomy, but we consider it should be…
What is European Taxonomy (2020/852/EU[i])?
- A classification system defining criteria to evaluate economic activities alignment with the 2050 net zero trajectory;
- A common language, allowing for a higher transparency through quality of information for investors and decision makers;
- A set of efficiency indicators or prescriptions for all economic sectors;
- A way to evidence sector’s capacity to promote a balanced use of resources in Food Production and Cities Greening
EIA’s elaborated a Position Paper on Sustainable Irrigation, applied to the European Commission (Dec 15th 2023), presented on the 9th of February 2024[ii]:
- 14 ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES were codified and defined within the irrigation value chain, from manufacturing to end-use, that can give a significant contribution to the achievement of the 6 objectives;
- 150 TECHNICAL CRITERIA were identified to bring a substantial contribution to the 6 EU environmental objectives. 17 of the technical criteria are indicators with unit of measure;
- 5 SECTOR’S RACCOMANDATIONS were elaboration addressing the 5 irrigation main stakeholders to guide future developments:
- Irrigation Companies: Use Sustainable Irrigation Definition and Criteria to orientate, evaluate and report;
- End-users and Value Chain: Encourage and Apply Sustainable practices from Manufacturing to Final Consumers;
- International Institutions: Consider Irrigation within future Sustainability Classifications and Regulations;
- Research and Standards: Work on universally recognized Sustainability Certification Framework;
- Financial Sector: Reward sector’s contribution to Sustainability.
And now what more?
- Toward becoming an eligible economic activity contributing to the EU sustainability objectives;
- Refine and quantify criteria: quotation, classification, qualification;
- Create a certification framework: sustainable technology and practices;
- It is our responsibility to achieve sustainability transition of the whole sector;
- We need your professional support… Join the EIA![iii]
[i] https://irrigationeurope.eu/en/event/eia-open-webinar-sustainable-irrigation-focus-on-the-framework-of-the-eu-taxonomy/
[ii] https://irrigationeurope.eu/en/event/eia-open-webinar-sustainable-irrigation-focus-on-the-framework-of-the-eu-taxonomy/
[iii] https://irrigationeurope.eu/en/become-a-member/
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[1] https://irrigationeurope.eu/en/become-a-member/