The indicator refers to the carbon stock, or the quantity of carbon stored in Italy in various forest reservoirs, and the variation in the carbon stock (carbon sink), which takes into account the carbon absorbed and the quantity released (emissions) due to fires, harvesting, and natural mortality of national forest ecosystems. The carbon stock and the carbon sink represent effective indicators for assessing the state of a nation's forest resources, being influenced by forest productivity and, negatively, by both natural and anthropogenic disturbances to which they are subject (fires, harvesting, parasites and pathogens, natural mortality, etc.). The carbon stock in Italian forests is increasing, marking a positive balance between emissions and absorption of greenhouse gases (carbon sink). This is linked on the one hand to forest conservation and protection policies; On the other hand, due to complex economic and social reasons, a reduction in the volume of wood harvesting. Emissions related to fires are of greater concern. The trend of the carbon sink, in the period 1990-2024, is strongly influenced by reductions in greenhouse gas absorption associated with the areas burned annually by fires. The effect of biomass losses due to fires in 1990, 1993, 2007, and 2017 on the carbon sink trend is particularly evident. This underscores the key role of fires in the contribution that national forests can make to the global carbon cycle.

The indicator provides information on the use of pesticides in individual crops. The data is collected through sample surveys on the quantities of pesticides used on specific crops and provides a significant representation of the intensity of use in terms of quantity/hectare and the potential environmental impact. In the 2014-2024 period, in relation to the objectives set out in the National Action Plan on the sustainable use of pesticides, the survey requires that two crops be surveyed each year, selected in rotation between grapevines, durum wheat, corn, tomatoes, and potatoes. Rotation allows for the survey of the different crops to be distributed over time, including, where possible, the repetition of at least one of the crops already surveyed the previous year, thus ensuring greater continuity in data availability and enabling comparisons over time.

Among those observed, grapevines are confirmed as the crop with the significantly highest distribution of active substances and average quantity per hectare, especially of fungicides.

The indicator takes into account the fertilizers distributed in agriculture, i.e. the technical inputs used essentially for the growth of agricultural crops. It analyses their territorial and temporal distribution, for an overall representation of the environmental impact based on the quantities and types of fertilizers placed on the market.
In 2024, over 4 million tons of fertilizers were placed on the market.

44.7% is made up of mineral fertilizers (simple, compound, based on meso and microelements), which have always been the best-selling type, with the only exception in 2022 and despite a negative propensity in their long-term distribution (2000 - 2024).

Organic fertilizers (soil improvers and organic fertilizers) follow, with a sales figure of 35.3% and a reversal in the propensity in long-term distribution, positive until the previous year (2000 - 2023).

The most popular category The largest share of fertilizers sold is that of simple minerals, with over 1.2 million tons (29.7% of total fertilizers). Their sales volume has fluctuated for several years, but their slight increase (compared to 2023) is more significant than the simultaneous decline in soil improvers, leading to a reversal of the prevalence of soil improvers in the last two years (a drop of over 250,000 tons, for a sales volume in 2024 of approximately 1 million tons).

Anthropogenic pressure on forest ecosystems in recent decades, due in part to the increased use of woody biomass for bioenergy and as a technical and construction material, has led to the degradation of many natural and semi-natural systems, particularly in tropical areas. These phenomena are often associated with the unsustainable and/or illegal exploitation of forest resources. The harvesting, processing, and transportation of wood and its derivatives can generate significant negative impacts on the environment, local/global economics, and even society. Over the last twenty years, attention has been focused on the sustainable use of forest biomass, encouraging concrete actions and effective tools aimed at preventing such impacts and mitigating their effects. These positive initiatives have involved policymakers, private companies, associations, and private citizens. Forest certification was created as a tool to prevent negative impacts and threats to national and international forestry heritage through the adoption of appropriate practices, based on careful planning and monitoring of the use and management of woody biomass.

In Italy, as of December 31, 2025, the forest area certified according to the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC™) scheme is equal to 1,124,507  hectares (with a 6% increase compared to 2024); while the area certified according to the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) scheme amounts to 155,751 hectares (35% more than the previous year).

Bees, pollen, and other bee matrices provide important information on the state of the environment and contamination, particularly chemical contamination from pesticides, that may be present in the environment. Specific laboratory analyses can detect traces of active ingredients contained in plant protection products used in areas where insects fly and forage. ISPRA has long been involved in research aimed at identifying the possible factors and causes responsible for bee mortality and the depopulation of bee colonies, including as a result of various agricultural practices using plant protection products implemented in natural and agricultural areas. The data collected show a trend fluctuating around an annual average of several dozen cases of bee mortality, with the presence of active ingredients on the bodies of insects or other bee matrices.

The pressure indicator reports the number and area of field trials involving genetically modified plants (GMPs) authorised in Italy under Directive 2001/18/EC since 1999.

The indicator has been compiled using data provided by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE). The number of field trials declined sharply in 2000, and no new trials were authorised from 2001 onwards. The last field trials, which had been granted multi-year authorisations, were completed in 2010. Following the entry into force of Law No. 68 of 13 June 2023, two new field trials were authorised in 2024 on rice and grapevine varieties resistant to plant pathogens, developed using genome editing techniques. In 2025, the number of field trials increased to five, with an additional trial on pathogen-resistant tomato, alongside those on rice and grapevine.

In 2024, approximately 93.6 thousand tonnes of plant protection products were placed on the market, containing a total of 40.4 thousand tonnes of active substances. When related to the treatable utilised agricultural area (UAA), the amount of active substances distributed was 4.53 kg/ha.

Compared with the previous year, sales of plant protection products increased slightly (+0.8%). A similarly modest increase was recorded in the quantity of active substances contained in these products, rising from 40.0 million kilograms in 2023 to approximately 40.4 million kilograms in 2024 (+0.9%).

Over the longer period 2014–2024, the market for plant protection products contracted by 28.0%. The quantity of active substances decreased by 32.1% compared with 2014, the year in which the previous National Action Plan (NAP) for the sustainable use of plant protection products entered into force. Trends differed across product categories. Active substances in fungicides declined by 35.6%, insecticides and acaricides by 23.8%, herbicides by 26.8%, and other plant protection products by 33.1%. In contrast, biological plant protection products increased by approximately 150% between 2014 and 2024; however, they still account for only a small share of the market, representing about 2% of the total.

The indicator describes greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (CH₄, N₂O and CO₂) released into the atmosphere by the agricultural sector, mainly resulting from livestock management and fertilizer use. It also assesses the sector's contribution to total national greenhouse gas emissions and progress towards emission reduction targets.

Since 1990, greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture have shown an overall downward trend. However, further emission reduction measures will be required to achieve the targets established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement and relevant European legislation. In particular, under the Effort Sharing Regulation (EU) 2023/857, Italy is required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the sectors covered by the Regulation—including agriculture, buildings, transport, waste and industrial installations not covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)—by 43.7% by 2030, compared with 2005 levels.

In 2024, greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture accounted for 10.8% of total emissions from the sectors covered by the Effort Sharing Regulation, while emissions from the agricultural sector were 15.2% lower than in 2005.

The indicator assesses the ability of the national agricultural sector to promote economic growth while reducing environmental pressures and impacts. Its purpose is to measure the eco-efficiency of agriculture, namely the sector's ability to achieve decoupling between economic growth and increases in environmental pressure and impact factors. The trends observed for the selected variables indicate an overall improvement in the eco-efficiency of Italian agriculture over the period 2000–2024. This is evident when comparing the trend in the economic variable (represented by gross value added at basic prices) with those of the environmental pressure indicators, all of which remain below their 2000 baseline levels.

The indicator describes ammonia (NH₃) emissions to the atmosphere from the agricultural sector, mainly resulting from livestock management and fertilizer use. It also assesses the sector's contribution to total national ammonia emissions and progress towards emission reduction targets.

In 2024, the agricultural sector emitted 323.5 kt of NH₃, accounting for 90.8% of total national ammonia emissions. With a 24% reduction compared with 2005, the sector is making a decisive contribution to achieving the emission reduction target.

The trend in NH₃ emissions is consistent with the reduction commitments established under the Gothenburg Protocol and the National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive.

The information on the population of the main livestock species, extracted from the National Livestock Register (BDN) managed by the Ministry of Health through the National Service Centre (CSN) at the "G. Caporale" Institute in Teramo — which compiles data on livestock operators, holdings and individual animals, as reported by Veterinary Services and Breeders’ Associations — has been converted into LSU (Livestock Units) to allow for consistent assessment.
The recorded data indicate that in 2024 — the latest full year available for the main livestock species considered — there was an overall decrease in livestock numbers (expressed in Livestock Units - LSU) of 3.3% over the 2019–2024 period, and a 1.9% decline compared to 2023.
In detail, the largest percentage reduction in LSUs was observed in sheep and goat breeds, with a 16.7% decrease over the five-year period and a 6.4% drop in the most recent year.
The gradual decline in cattle numbers also continues (-3.9% over five years and -1.5% between 2023 and 2024), while buffalo numbers show a consistent increase (+9.1% over five years and +0.9% in the last year), confirming the trend toward replacement in livestock farming practices.

n 2023, organic farming in Italy covered 2,456,020 hectares, involving approximately 94,400 organic operators. Organic agriculture accounted for 7.4% of all farms and 19.8% of the utilised agricultural area (UAA), according to the 2021 ISTAT Census, falling 5.2 percentage points short of the 25% UAA target for organic farming. 

Over the past 33 years, the trend has been upward in both the number of operators and cultivated area, countering the long-standing decline in utilised agricultural area in Italy.

 At the European level, Italy ranks among the most virtuous Member States.

Systemic food wastage in the Italian food system amounts to 66% of the total food energy produced. There has been a 17% increase in food wastage compared to 2015, measured in kilocalories per person per day. This situation remains far from institutional targets of halving or significantly reducing food wastage by 2030.

The indicator estimates the scale of the agricultural sector and its potential environmental impact through the number of agricultural and livestock holdings and the Utilised Agricultural Area (UAA). A comparison of data from the last two Agricultural Censuses (2010 and 2020) reveals a nationwide reduction of 488,000 holdings (-30.1%) and a decline of 424,000 hectares in Utilised Agricultural Area (-3.3%). Moreover, analysis of the change in the average size of holdings shows that the UAA per holding increased from 8 to 11 hectares, highlighting a significant trend toward the concentration of agricultural enterprises.