EU countries pledge to boost water-saving tech as droughts rise

Southern EU nations agreed to develop water-saving technologies in agriculture to mitigate the worsening effects of climate change, which threatens food security in the region.

Menelaos Hadjicostis reports for The Associated Press.

In short:

• Officials from nine southern EU countries met in Cyprus to discuss climate-related droughts impacting agriculture.
• They committed to sharing data and research, developing water-efficient farming and creating crops that can withstand harsh conditions.
• Ministers called for increased EU funding to support these initiatives and attract younger farmers.

Key quote:

“Climate change is a real threat to food production worldwide, and this risk is even more severe in the Mediterranean area.”

— Luis Planas, Spain’s Agriculture Minister

Why this matters:

Rising droughts could devastate food supplies in Mediterranean regions, threatening both local economies and global food security. Adaptation to new climate conditions is essential for long-term agricultural sustainability.

Related EHN coverage:

• Sicilian farmers face dire drought conditions
• Climate change could slash staple crops.
• Capturing and reusing urban storm water could be a boon for water-stressed cities—if we can find a way to clean it up