Future pathways
Larissa workshop I
Scenario 1: Water and crop management without major changes
This scenario involves the gradual reduction of existing irrigated land [2,830,000 acres] by 2030. No additional or planned projects are taken into account [RBMP 2024]. Adaptation in this case includes restructuring of current irrigated crops in response to reduced water availability and a partial increase in rainfed cultivation, without significant transformation of agricultural practices or radical changes in production structures.
Scenario 2: Irrigation Allocation and Resource Conservation through Radical Crop Restructuring
This scenario concerns the maintenance of irrigated land [2,830,000 acres] that exists today, up to 2030. The scenario includes the gradual integration of planned and additional projects based on the RBMP (2024) by 2030, with a total irrigation capacity of 465 million m³. The scenario also involves the increase of vegetable cultivation, the transition to alternative forage crops, as well as the gradual discontinuation of irrigation for water-intensive large-scale crops (cotton, maize, alfalfa).
Scenario 3: Irrigation Savings and Expansion of Water Resources through the Establishment of a Crop Zoning System
This scenario concerns the maintenance of the current irrigated land [2,830,000 acres] up to 2030. With the scheduled and additional projects of the RBMPs (2024), totaling 210 million m³, as well as the transfer of 250 million m³ from the Acheloos River to the Pinios Basin, the existing water deficit is expected to be covered. It is estimated that, due to climate change, rainfall in Thessaly will decrease by more than 30%, while rising temperatures will increase irrigation needs by more than 10%. The scenario supports changes in practices regarding both irrigation and cultivation methods, as well as the establishment of permanent crop zones, within the framework of rational water management, through the creation of new networks and the expansion of existing ones.
Scenario 4: Water management in agro-ecological systems
This scenario concerns the irrigation of only 1.8 million acres [out of the 2.8 million irrigated acres]. Based on the projected irrigable areas and their requirements, no water deficit is anticipated. In this scenario, the revision of the RBMP (2024) is considered a given, with an emphasis and priority on agro-ecological systems. To support this scenario, a transition is foreseen toward high value-added rainfed crops, the promotion and strengthening of Greek protein-rich forage crops (chickpea, fava bean, pea, lupin, etc.) for use in animal feed, as well as changes in cultivation practices that will enhance biodiversity and the soil’s capacity to retain water.
Scenario Analysis
Click on one of the images to view the details of the corresponding scenario
This scenario involves the gradual reduction of existing irrigated land [2,830,000 acres] by 2030. No additional or planned projects are taken into account [RBMP 2024]. Adaptation in this case includes restructuring of current irrigated crops in response to reduced water availability and a partial increase in rainfed cultivation, without significant transformation of agricultural practices or radical changes in production structures.
This scenario concerns the maintenance of irrigated land [2,830,000 acres] that exists today, up to 2030. The scenario includes the gradual integration of planned and additional projects based on the RBMP (2024) by 2030, with a total irrigation capacity of 465 million m³. The scenario also involves the increase of vegetable cultivation, the transition to alternative forage crops, as well as the gradual discontinuation of irrigation for water-intensive large-scale crops (cotton, maize, alfalfa).
This scenario concerns the maintenance of the current irrigated land [2,830,000 acres] up to 2030. With the scheduled and additional projects of the RBMPs (2024), totaling 210 million m³, as well as the transfer of 250 million m³ from the Acheloos River to the Pinios Basin, the existing water deficit is expected to be covered. It is estimated that, due to climate change, rainfall in Thessaly will decrease by more than 30%, while rising temperatures will increase irrigation needs by more than 10%. The scenario supports changes in practices regarding both irrigation and cultivation methods, as well as the establishment of permanent crop zones, within the framework of rational water management, through the creation of new networks and the expansion of existing ones.
This scenario concerns the irrigation of only 1.8 million acres [out of the 2.8 million irrigated acres]. Based on the projected irrigable areas and their requirements, no water deficit is anticipated. In this scenario, the revision of the RBMP (2024) is considered a given, with an emphasis and priority on agro-ecological systems. To support this scenario, a transition is foreseen toward high value-added rainfed crops, the promotion and strengthening of Greek protein-rich forage crops (chickpea, fava bean, pea, lupin, etc.) for use in animal feed, as well as changes in cultivation practices that will enhance biodiversity and the soil’s capacity to retain water.