-
.
- Ελληνικά
It is a great honour for me to be invited to sponsor and welcome the launch of the 4th Lidl Wellness Camp, which takes place on the occasion of World Food Day, celebrated every year on 16 October.
World Food Day was established on 16 October 1945 to mark the day of the establishment and operation of the United Nations World Food Organisation and is celebrated by many organisations around the world.
World Food Day 2023 is dedicated to our most precious natural resource, water, and is entitled "water is life, water is food". Water is the source of life for every organism and is the cornerstone of global agriculture and food production.
Water scarcity is one of the main issues of global development today, but also a cause of conflicts and even armed conflicts in many parts of the world. And maybe we in the place where we are located cannot understand the problem in our everyday life and economy, but unfortunately the numbers speak for themselves - more than two and a half billion of our fellow human beings on this planet live in conditions of water scarcity.
The global water shortage is caused by a variety of reasons which boil down to a single culprit, man! The result is less and less available drinking water, less water to grow food and produce the goods we need, less water to sustain the ecosystems we depend on.
Agriculture consumes 72% annually of the world's available fresh water. Another 16% goes to municipalities for households and services, while the remaining 12% is used by industries. Without action, in 2050 water use by agriculture will increase by 35%. This means that collectively, we risk reaching a point of no return. We must and can find ways to produce more with less water. We need to protect our available water resources from overexploitation and pollution. We also need to ensure that the whole planet has equitable access to water.
Friends,
Water policy, in conjunction with the agricultural policy currently practiced in Cyprus, has brought about significant improvements in both the use and conservation of water in our country.
The infrastructure that began to be built in the last century has resulted in effective water conservation. At the same time, important projects have been implemented and continue to be implemented concerning the treatment and reuse of water from other uses, significantly improving our water balance.
Advanced irrigation techniques are promoted on a regular basis by the co-funded programmes of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, significantly reducing the quantities of water required per crop, without limiting production.
Advanced irrigation techniques are promoted on a regular basis by the co-funded programmes of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, significantly reducing the quantities of water required per crop, without limiting production. Research and, by extension, the use of smart and digitalized agriculture practices which are also promoted by our Ministry, contribute to the more efficient use of water in agriculture. Through the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027, which has been prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and approved by the European Commission, we continue to promote environmentally friendly agriculture by limiting the use of pesticides and fertilizers, while reducing the contamination of groundwater in our country.
But we as citizens also have a responsibility towards water. 17% of food produced globally ends up in waste every year, effectively wasting the water used to produce it. Therefore, reducing food waste in our households not only benefits our household economy but also helps to conserve water.
Friends,
In closing, I would like to express my congratulations to Lidl Cyprus for organising this event and to convey a simple message: "We must treat water as it deserves, our life and food, and that of future generations, depends on it".
Note: The address was read out on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment by Mr. Socrates Sokratous, Agriculture Officer A'.
(MΓ)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
