Coldiretti Brescia has raised an alarm regarding land consumption in the province, emphasizing that over 50,000 hectares of land have been artificially covered, accounting for 10.5% of the territory. Between 2022 and 2023, 147 hectares were consumed, equivalent to about 205 football fields. On the occasion of World Soil Day, President Laura Facchetti highlighted the urgency of protecting agricultural heritage and fertile land, calling for interventions at the national, regional, and local levels to halt urbanization and uncontrolled solar energy installations.
The situation is also critical for food production: Italy must address a significant production deficit in several essential crops such as wheat and corn. Coldiretti Brescia warns that ongoing land consumption not only threatens food security but also compromises the environmental and hydrogeological balance of the area. Artificial coverings hinder proper water absorption in the soil, amplifying the effects of climate change and increasing the risks associated with extreme weather events.