ROME (AP) — Italy’s agriculture minister warned Parliament on Wednesday that a third of Italy’s agricultural production was at risk because of drought and poor water infrastructure and that the situation is only going to get worse in years to come Stefano Patuanelli provided the latest data from government research institutes which showed that Italy lost 19% of its available water resources from 1991-2020 compared to 1921-1950 and that the next decades could see further decreases of up to 40% “We are thus witnessing a slow but unrelenting wasting away of water availability in our country,” Patuanelli told the lower Chamber of Deputies The government has declared a state of emergency in several northern regions because of a prolonged drought and accompanying heat wave that has dried up the Po River a crucial artery for irrigation across an area of north-central Italy that is a key producer of fruits The drought followed unusually light precipitation during the winter that deprived mountains of fresh snowfall which would normally feed rivers and reservoirs in summer. The combined climactic events have been blamed for the July 3 cleaving off of the melting Marmolada glacier and ensuing avalanche that killed 11 hikers in northern Trento Patuanelli told lawmakers that such droughts occur cyclically in Italy but that they are projected to occur more often and “with ever more devastating consequences.” He said the Po River basin is currently the biggest worry “because the area concerns a third of national agricultural production.” “We’re talking about the cultivation of fruit especially corn and rice,” as well as the breeding farms that produce the region’s famed Parmesan cheese and prosciutto Italian farm lobby Coldiretti has said the emergency has already cost Italian farmers about 3 billion euros in losses, coupled with soaring energy prices stemming from Russia’s war in Ukraine While unusual heat and lack of rainfall are to blame for the current crisis Italy has a notoriously wasteful water infrastructure that national statistics agency ISTAT estimates loses 42% of drinking water from distribution networks each year in large part due to old and poorly maintained pipes A Canadian man arrested on vacation has been proven innocent Melissa Nakhavoly with why he is still being held in the Dominican Republic Warmer temperatures but showers are expected on-and-off for the next few days Meteorologist Natasha Ramsahai has your seven-day forecast Ontario Premier Doug Ford calls on Prime Minister Mark Carney to prioritize a list of projects including the proposed Highway 401 tunnel a mentally ill man who was killed in an Ontario prison is calling out the provincial government over the lack of correctional reform listen to NewsRadio Toronto live anytime and get up-to-the-minute breaking-news alerts weather and video from CityNews Toronto anywhere you are – across all Android and iOS devices Subscribe Italy-based label converter Pilot Italia has relocated to a new facility in Cornate d’Adda Production has been moved from Usmate Velate and Merate and will now be based in the new 7,500 square meter factory A new large format offset printing line has been installed at the new site which is based in a large green area and well-connected with nearby motorways ‘Investing in a time of depression means being brave and having faith in the future,’ said the company in a statement ‘But it also means getting ready for even fiercer competition and being ready to face it with the best weapons.’ Click here for more stories about Pilot Italia on L&L.com Gain knowledge with articles and videos collated from Label Academy books