Beja hosts national irrigation congress as water demand could rise 27.5%

Beja will host the XI National Irrigation and Drainage Congress from 30 September to 2 October, opened by the Minister of Agriculture and Sea. Organisers warn that climate change could increase irrigation water needs by 27.5% by the end of the century under the worst-case scenario. Portugal has already improved irrigation efficiency by 18% between 1999 and 2023, with 633,000 hectares now irrigated, producing around 30% of national agricultural output. The congress will discuss artificial intelligence, water strategy, modernisation and a national efficiency barometer showing over 118,000 hectares under efficient-use practices in 2025.

This appeared in the Pulse of 23 June 2026 — Read that edition →