Coldiretti warns of severe Po Basin drought and calls for a national reservoir network to protect Italy’s food belt
Executive summary: Coldiretti issued an alarm that the Po Basin has experienced a drastic drop in water levels, up to eight meters, and urged the creation of a network of reservoirs to mitigate the drought. The Po Basin contributes about a third of Italy’s agri‑food production; prolonged drought could cut yields, raise food prices and strain rural economies.
Who is involved: Coldiretti (farmers’ association), Po River basin authorities, Italian Ministry of Agricultural Policies, regional governments, and agricultural producers across northern Italy.
Likely next: Government agencies may launch feasibility studies for new reservoirs, consider emergency water‑allocation measures, and seek EU co‑funding for water‑infrastructure projects.
The Po River basin’s water level has dropped to eight meters below normal, threatening a region that supplies roughly one‑third of Italy’s agricultural output. Coldiretti’s alert highlights the immediate risk to crop yields and livestock feed, urging rapid infrastructure investment to store water. While the announcement is based on observed hydrological data, the proposed solution will require coordination among ministries, regional authorities and private stakeholders, and its feasibility will depend on funding and environmental clearances.
Timeline
- — Coldiretti, allarme siccità nella Pianura Padana: “Serve una rete di invasi” (la Repubblica — Economia)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Government may announce funding for water reservoir projects in the Po Basin
- Discussion at EU level on drought‑response funding and water‑management directives
Sectors affected
- Agriculture
- Food processing
- Water infrastructure
Regulatory implications
- Environmental impact assessments will be triggered for large‑scale water storage
Historical parallels
- The 2022 Po River drought that cut wheat yields by ~15%
- The 2003 European heatwave that strained water reserves across southern Europe
- The 2012 Italian water scarcity that prompted temporary irrigation restrictions
Key entities
Sources
- Coldiretti, allarme siccità nella Pianura Padana: “Serve una rete di invasi” — la Repubblica — Economia