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Water in horticulture, a resourse at risk?

Horticulture has always relied on water to achieve high-quality crops. However, the use of irrigation resources has not always been optimized, and improper management can lead to undesirable effects across multiple dimensions.

In many horticulture areas, there is currently a structural shortage of irrigation resources, while others face an excess of water and increasingly concentrated rainfall with extreme events. This situation calls for a thorough reconsideration of water supply and management methods. In this context, it is essential to make the most of all available water sources, starting with the construction of dedicated reservoirs for water storage, up to the potential use of treated wastewater, in compliance with quality standards that ensure plant health and the quality of production.

At the same time, research and technological innovation now offer horticulture a wide range of advanced tools to optimize irrigation practices.

The conference aims to explore these topics with the contribution of leading national and international experts and researchers, bringing together scientific knowledge, practical experience, and perspectives on water resource governance, with the goal of outlining a horticulture model capable of combining sustainability, quality, and competitiveness.

The conference will also provide continuing education credits for industry professionals.

PROGRAM

The meeting aims to provide an opportunity for scientific and technical discussion on the role of water in modern horticulture, focusing on sustainability, production quality, resource reuse, and technological innovation.

The proceedings will begin at 2:00 PM with institutional remarks by the President of the FRESH Foundation, Angelo Benedetti, the President of Macfrut, Patrizio Neri, and with a contribution from the President of Nomisma, Prof. Paolo De Castro.

This will be followed by a presentation by Prof. Luca Corelli Grappadelli (DISTAL – University of Bologna), dedicated to the objectives and prospects of irrigation in horticulture.

The program will be organized into three thematic sessions:

Irrigation and production quality, featuring contributions from Prof. Bartolomeo Dichio (University of Basilicata) and Prof. Claudio Gandolfi (University of Milan).
Wastewater for the horticulture of the future, with presentations by Prof. Elena Baldi (University of Bologna), Dr. Silver Giorgini (CEO, Sicural), and Prof. Giulio Perulli (University of Bologna).
Innovation, automation, and the management of “Smart Water”, with an international presentation by Prof. Ian Goodwin (Tatura Smart Farm – AgVic), who will illustrate solutions adopted within the Australian distribution network, and by the Director of the Emilia-Romagna Canal Consortium, Dr. Raffaella Zucaro (CER / ANBI), on the consortium’s experience in the efficient management of irrigation networks.

The closing remarks will be delivered by Prof. Bruno Marangoni (University of Bologna).