Irrigation solutions for agriculture resilient to water scarcity

Extreme weather patterns in the EU, characterised by more frequent droughts and floods, are becoming increasingly common. If left unaddressed, water scarcity could lead to significant annual losses and affect 17% of the population by 2050.  

Currently, over 40% of the EU’s water is used for agriculture, and most of the freshwater abstraction is for agricultural use in countries like Greece, Spain, and Cyprus. Reducing water use is pivotal for a future resilient against climate change. In a 2°C temperature rise scenario droughts are estimated to cause €12.2 billion losses per year. Approximately 84% of the economic impact of drought falls on agriculture and farmers, which often results in smallholder farms having to stop their activity or to transition to more drought-resistant crops.

About RAINS

The EU-funded RAINS project aims to improve the resilience of EU agriculture to water scarcity and extreme weather conditions by implementing innovative solutions focused on irrigation practices and technologies.  

These solutions will enhance water and nutrient management while mitigating the effects of extreme weather. Key components include alternative water supply methods, biofertilisers, improved soil water retention and advanced tools such as Optifangs-IA and WaterIQ for better irrigation management.  

Working across demo farms in Greece and Spain, it aims to improve water efficiency by 50% on 12,700 hectares, support over 500 farmers, and save €6.1 billion, 244 million liters of water, and 35 tons of CO2 emissions by 2050.  

Facts