Due to the drought, this year, approximately 8 thousand fewer hectares of rice will be cultivated in Italy, bringing the total to just 211 thousand hectares, the lowest in thirty years. Coldiretti makes this point to emphasize how the problems facing the rice industry are indicative of the broader challenges facing the agricultural sector in the country. Rice is a crop that requires water in order to grow and maintain the ecological and faunal equilibrium of entire territories. The collapse of more than 30% in rice production in Italy over the last year due to extreme weather is forcing farmers to abandon rice fields, which has serious implications for the environment, the economy, and employment. Because rice cultivation guarantees real water basins resulting in decisive for the environment and the entire agroecosystem, its loss only exacerbates the water scarcity problem. A real shock with over ten thousand families, including employees and entrepreneurs, involved in the entire supply chain, but also for environmental and biodiversity protection. There are actually 200 varieties of rice listed in the national register, ranging from the genuine Carnaroli, known as the "king of rice" for its high starch content and consistency, to the Arborio, which has large, pearly grains that enlarge while cooking, to Vialone Nano, the first rice to be recognized as a Protected Geographical Indication in Europe. These varieties are followed by Rome and Baldo, which helped shape the history of Italian rice farming. Italy is the leading supplier of rice to the European Union, providing 1.5 million tons annually along with a variety of rice types and a quality that is unmatched anywhere else in the world.