Water resources: progress made but much remains to be done

 

 

On the occasion of the launch of the 2018 State of theEuropean Environment Agency Water Report, COPA COGECA highlighted the major progress made by European farmers.

 

 

 

Niels Peter Norring, President of COPA-COGECA's Environment Working Group, spoke at the event: "Significant progress has been made by European farmers and their cooperatives over the past decade, as a result of very strong environmental rules. strict rules in place in the common agricultural policy (CAP). The agricultural sector will continue to contribute to a more sustainable use of water. One of the main priorities in the future CAP will be to address environmental issues. "

 

 

 

"In this context, precision farming plays a vital role. Through smart agriculture, we will be able to manage natural resources more efficiently and minimize the impact on the environment. For this purpose, training and advisory services as well as knowledge exchange and financial incentives will need to be strengthened. The storage and reuse of water are also important strategies to reduce the amount of fresh water we use and to continue to improve the efficiency of water use on farms. "

 

 

 

Nevertheless there are still some problems such as leaching of nutrients due to faulty or old systems, untreated rainwater. As well as an undervaluation of the negative impact of climate change on aquatic ecosystems, especially for lakes and rivers. This situation is likely to deteriorate with increasing levels of drought.