Ardo CSR rapport 2024 - Flipbook - Page 43
We are Ardo
The path to a more
sustainable food system
Agronomy
MIMOSA+
Minimal environmental
impact
4 Water – Optimising irrigation
Food safety, quality
and innovation
Good structure
E3-2 — Actions and resources related to water and marine
Relationship with
our stakeholders
Bad structure
pluviometry (mm)
irrigation (mm)
pressure (centibars)
Respect for
our employees
pluviometry (mm)
irrigation (mm)
pressure (centibars)
120
30 120
30
100
25 100
25
15 cm
40
10
20
5
20
5
7-Sep
0
WATER PRESSURE AT 25CM DEPTH
0
PLUVIOMETRY
IRRIGATION
WATER EXCESS
14-Sep
10
7-Sep
40
31-Aug
15
24-Aug
60
17-Aug
15
11-Aug
60
14-Sep
20
30-Aug
80
23-Aug
20
16-Aug
80
9-Aug
The availability of water for irrigation, whether
from regular rainfall or water reserves, has
become increasingly unreliable in recent
years. In our northern growing regions, shifting
rainfall patterns driven by climate change have
led to longer periods of drought and more
intense rainfall at other times. Meanwhile,
southern Europe has experienced a significant
decline in water reserves traditionally relied
upon for irrigation.
35 cm
resources
COMFORT ZONE
WATER STRESS
A bad soil structure characterised by underdeveloped root systems restricts their depth and creates an increased
need for irrigation. A good soil structure has the opposite effect and saves water from being wasted.
In 2024, record-high rainfall brought some relief to the South
Soil structure plays a crucial role in both water capture and
to provide reliable guidance to farmers, including water balance
of Europe, replenishing water reserves. However, in the North,
infiltration. Well-structured, healthy soil supports deeper root
calculations, personalised recommendations, tensiometers,
excessive rainfall caused challenges, highlighting the urgent
development, enabling plants to access stored water and
and capacitive sensors. By 2025, we aim to scale up a
need to conserve water and optimise its use to adapt to
reducing the need for irrigation. In contrast, poorly structured
comprehensive solution to support more farmers in optimising
increasingly unpredictable situations.
or unhealthy soil stores less water, restricts root growth, and
their water use.
leaves plants more vulnerable to drought.
Water is crucial for the growth and development of plants
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through the photosynthesis process, which converts the CO2
Industry research shows that irrigation decisions are often
that is captured in the air by plants into oxygen and energy-
based on farmers’ experience and intuition. However, accurately
rich organic compounds such as sugars. Without water being
assessing irrigation needs requires insight into conditions
absorbed by plants through the root system, the photosynthesis
beneath the soil surface, combined with information regarding
cannot take place and plant development is hampered.
rainfall. Over the past two years, we have tested various systems
Sustainability
statements
