University research to save the planet's water
In coherence with the objectives set by the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and with the main European development strategies, including the Green Deal, the University of Turin (Italy) has launched the work for the establishment of a new University Center and the Technological and Research Area. It will bring together, in a wide green area of about 122,000 square meters, the 4 departments that study life and environmental ecosystems, which are:
- Chemistry
- Life Sciences and Systems Biology
- Agricultural, Forestry and Food Science
- Veterinary Science
With this project, the University aims to contribute actively to the objectives of sustainability and innovation at environmental, economic and social level, by encouraging a system planning and the integration with the territory and its resources.
The connection of four different departments will allow developing a greater synergy between interdisciplinary sectors such as Agrifood, Green Chemistry, Sustainable Energy, Materials Sciences, Bioeconomy and Environmental Sustainability.
The 4 departments will work to enhance the research, the development of talent and human capital, to innovate and bring solutions and contributions to global problems.
Among these, the highest challenge is the study and research on the most important resource for the planet: water.
The interconnection between the researches of the four departments of the University of Turin together with the collaboration of the stakeholders of the territory, allows addressing the fundamental ecological, biological, chemical and health aspects related to the conservation, management and protection of the water resource. This will be integrated by technological innovation strategies aimed at a rational use of water, also in consideration of current and future scenarios linked to global climate change.
We aim to investigate the state of health of the water resource and the strategies/technologies applicable to ensure a sustainable use of water. It is important to save water in terms of the amount used for irrigation for crops production (even in rice farming systems) or for the breeding of livestock (including aquaculture). Furthermore, the techniques for mitigating the risk of pollution of surface and deep waters from agricultural and livestock sources are presented.
In the technological field, the research presents the development of sustainable processes with low environmental impact for the removal of pollutants, with particular attention to emerging and persistent ones, involving several leader Italian companies in the water sector and other European and non-European universities. New integrated technologies are shown for the monitoring and treatment of polluted water that, starting from the use of exhausted materials, lead to the preparation of advanced low-cost materials that exploit the use of sunlight and that allow to maximize the recycling and reuse of water through a circular economy approach.