It is during times of severe drought, such as the one we are experiencing these days, that bring out how valuable renewable sources are, water first and foremost. Agriculture absorbs about 70 percent of the available water resource on the planet and mitigating its use has become a duty for everyone.
We talked about this with Giulia Giuffrè, Board Member and Sustainability Ambassador of Irritec, also named SDG Pioneer for Sustainable Water Management by the UN Global Compact in 2021.
Giulia Giuffrè
"Managing water is essential to consume less and produce better, along the entire agri-food chain. Irritec has integrated the values of sustainability into its corporate identity and, in order to raise awareness in the agricultural world, it wants to share stories of young farmers (and those belonging to the agri-food chain - ed.) precisely to document how they are facing this challenge and how, perhaps, they are turning it into an opportunity."
Water is not an infinite resource, but it is indispensable for the production of food. From this simple yet essential understanding derives the solutions proposed by precision agriculture and sustainable farming. It is combined with the centered use of water, in drops, to produce food. Therefore, does the future lie in a drops-for-food approach?
"Absolutely yes. Water, which is an indispensable element for creating food, is Irritec's main theme to describe its international network, made up of more than 15,000 specialists worldwide and 16 branches where more than 800 people work,” replied Giuffré.
"The educational activities we are putting in place are two. The first is the creation of a calendar for the year 2023. Through a twelve-photo long story, Irritec highlights each month the story of young entrepreneurs working in the international agribusiness supply chain. It is an opportunity to discover not only the industry, but also to describe the sustainable solutions adopted in agriculture by Irritec. The calendar will be distributed worldwide, where various Irritec offices are located, including the main holidays of each country in the world for each month."
"The other activity of the project is the Best Agrishot 2022 contest," continued Irritec's Sustainability Ambassador, "This is an initiative that has been very successful in its past editions and this year is themed ‘Next Generation, the stories of young people in agriculture'. This is an international photography contest promoted by Irritec to use pictures to narrate the stories of young people who work in agriculture and who strive every day to improve and innovate the agrifood sector with sustainable practices. To enter the contest, photos and a brief description must be submitted. The winner will allow the selected farm to be featured in a video reportage that will be professionally broadcast on media and social media. Given Irritec's international connotation, the initiative is extended to the macro areas of the globe where the company has a presence, from Europe to South America, Asia and Africa. The announcement of the winner of Best Agrishot 2022 will take place during the Salina Doc Fest 2022 next September."
To enter Best Agrishot 2022, users need to go to https://www.irritec.it/best-agrishot/, fill out the form with the required information, attach one to a maximum of ten photos, and tell, with a brief description, how young agricultural entrepreneurs every day strive to improve and innovate the agricultural sector. The deadline to participate is 31 August 2022.
For more information: 
Irritec S.p.a.
Via Gambitta Conforto, sn.
98071 - Capo d'Orlando (ME) Italy
+39 0941 922 300
www.irritec.com