Arrigoni Screens Cut Crop Evaporation 40 to 50 Percent
Field trials of Arrigoni's Prisma and Robuxta thermoreflective screens showed reduced water loss from crops during high summer temperatures.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Agriculture
Arrigoni tested its Prisma and Robuxta thermoreflective screens in field trials, finding they reduced evaporation by 40 to 50 per cent compared with uncovered areas at maximum temperatures above 31°C. The company will present the products and a new catalogue at EIMA International 2026.
Why it matters
Agriculture accounts for about 70 per cent of global freshwater withdrawals, and prolonged droughts and heatwaves are increasing pressure on water resources. Projections that irrigated production must rise by more than 50 per cent by 2050 while available water could grow by no more than 10 per cent make water-saving farm technologies increasingly relevant.
Arrigoni's research team tested 25 fabrics in field trials, with the Prisma and Robuxta screens reducing evaporation 40 to 50 per cent versus uncovered areas at temperatures above 31°C. The source does not specify which crops were grown or whether results were independently replicated beyond the 2023 France trials.
The players
Arrigoni
Arrigoni is an Italian manufacturer of agricultural nets and films used to shade and protect crops.
EIMA International
EIMA International is a major agricultural machinery and equipment exhibition held biennially in Bologna, Italy.
The details
Arrigoni's research and development department ran summer trials in which the screens' white surfaces reflected solar radiation responsible for heating while providing shading that improved light distribution to crops. The company also describes Robuxta as having a reinforced monofilament structure, and its new catalogue organises nets and films by crop application, separating stocked products from made-to-order solutions.
Timeline
2023: Independent ACSE trials were conducted in France.
10 to 14 November 2026: EIMA International exhibition takes place in Bologna, where Arrigoni will present Prisma, Robuxta, and the new catalogue.
Market Landscape
Arrigoni's thermoreflective screens position the company within the broader push for water-efficient crop protection as irrigated agriculture faces rising demand. The projected need for more than 50 per cent more irrigated production by 2050 is driving farmers toward shading and evaporation-reduction technologies.
Growers facing high summer temperatures could reduce crop water loss by 40 to 50 per cent with thermoreflective screens, according to Arrigoni's trials. Farmers weighing shade-net investments can compare the shading levels of the LDF and MDF versions against their own irrigation costs.
The takeaway
Water-saving shade technology can meaningfully reduce evaporation during heatwaves, making it a practical consideration for growers under tightening water supplies. Testing across varied crops and regions would clarify how broadly these results apply.
What happens next
Arrigoni will present Prisma, Robuxta, and its new catalogue at EIMA International in Bologna from 10 to 14 November 2026.
Further reading
Explore more agriculture coverage for context on how water management is reshaping crop production.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Freshplaza.
