The Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies announces that the Council of Ministers has allocated 120,4 millions of euros, based on the 2018 endowment of the Fund for infrastructure development of the country, for interventions on irrigation infrastructures and to support research in agriculture.
“We have guaranteed resources - declares Minister Maurizio Martina - for two crucial issues such as water management and public research for the fight against climate change. After a dry season like the one we went through, it is a necessary and structural investment. With this decision once again the central role of agriculture in preserving the environment and relaunching the development of the country is recognized ”.
The sector of reclamation and irrigation has been allocated a budget of about 110 million euro, for projects of strategic importance for the achievement of environmental rehabilitation objectives of territories with high agricultural value, soil protection and prevention of hydrogeological instability. In addition, the Fund has allocated specific resources to combat certain emergency situations in the so-called "Terra dei Fuochi" and in the provinces of Verona and Padua, affected by pollution from PFAS.
On the other hand, € 10,5 million was allocated to research, to be invested in projects aimed at improving the productivity of the entire agri-food sector, safeguarding the biodiversity of agro-ecosystems and mitigating the impact of climate change. Among these, the technological and infrastructural investments of scientific laboratories assume particular importance, which will allow the strengthening of study and research activities along the Italian production chains; from the quality (genetic and phytosanitary) of the materials for propagation, to the optimal management of cultivation techniques, to the hygienic-sanitary safety of the productions, as well as to the identification of the exact territorial origin of the agri-food products.