Agri-food, for 97% Italians national excellence at risk

Rainy phenomena increasingly rare but abundant, progressive increase in temperatures, rapid evaporation of water: 97% of Italians consider Italian agri-food excellence to be at high risk. To trace the picture is an Ipsos research commissioned by Finish on the occasion of the world day for the fight against desertification and drought conducted on a sample of a thousand people. In particular, 82% said they were concerned by multiple problems related to water scarcity. More specifically, 57% expressed concern about increasingly severe atmospheric phenomena, 51% due to drought and 35% about an increasingly reduced availability of water for agriculture.Still with regard to the concerns of citizens, the research also shows that, for the present, 24% of Italians are today worried about the progressive melting of glaciers, compared to only 12% for the heavy rains that occur during short periods of year and an even more alarming and reduced 9% for periods of increasingly prolonged drought. Looking to the future, however, both rains and droughts recorded an important leap forward of 7%, reaching 19% and 16% respectively.These very significant data are part of a very important framework in which particular awareness and attention to the environment and sustainability emerge. In fact, 91% of those interviewed said they were aware of the concept of sustainability, with an even higher percentage (97%) for those who consider this an important factor for the development and maintenance of the planet and society. As a demonstration of this, Italians also say they are ready to intervene on their behavior, to live in a more sustainable way and respect the environment, with percentages significantly increasing with the passing of age. For example, 83% of respondents said they try, in their daily lives, to reduce food waste as much as possible and 77% to reduce water waste. Furthermore, 64% said they were ready to give up something in the present if this meant ensuring more environmental resources for future generations, while a substantial 60% even declared themselves ready to radically change their habits in favor of the environment.