Minimise the amount of water used in agriculture, considerably reduce the use of fertilisers and pesticides, and curtail CO2 emissions: these are the goals behind the partnership between Romagnoli F.lli Spa and Legambiente, which created the first agricultural production chain for high-quality potatoes grown with water-saving irrigation systems.

The experiment was launched in 2014, and immediately proved that low-pressure and high- efficiency irrigation methods offer benefits in terms of both production and fuel consumption (CO2 emissions). Specifically, high-efficiency irrigation produced the best results.

Since the start of the experimental project, Romagnoli F.lli Spa included some of the leading agricultural companies in the province of Bologna, covering about 200 hectares and producing about 8,500 tons of potatoes, reducing water consumption by 25%. Implementing this method also improved production yields, thanks to decreased discard and greater size uniformity.

The result is “Patata di Campo - Amica dell’Ambiente” (or “Potato from the Fields - Friend of the Environment”), which will be available in supermarkets starting in early July.