Italian
An important reflection on the future of Italian agriculture took place at the “Agricoltura è” Village, an event organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry. The meeting, entitled “Tradition and Innovation,” saw the participation of sector experts, politicians, and representatives of trade associations.
ROME. The event, moderated by Fratelli d’Italia senator Luca De Carlo, president of the Senate’s IX Committee – Industry, Commerce, Tourism, Agriculture, and Agri-food Production, addressed the challenges and opportunities facing the Italian agricultural sector in an ever-evolving context.
“It’s easy to criticize and complain; what’s more difficult is to work towards building the agriculture of the future, and that’s why we are here,” De Carlo began. “With the good practices we have showcased tonight, we demonstrate how alive our agriculture is: there’s tradition, evidenced by the world record of recognized PDO and PGI products and the growth of agri-food exports, and there’s innovation, intrinsic to agriculture thanks to the work of farmers who have successfully carried out their work despite European policies, and certainly not thanks to them.”
Among the central themes of the debate, energy and soil were identified as crucial elements for the sector’s future. “We want to understand how, through research, science, technology, and good practices, we intend to address this changing world, starting from the undeniable climate changes,” De Carlo added.
The role of farmers as custodians of the environment and territory was another focal point of the meeting. The importance of agriculture as a productive and economic sector, especially in relation to tourism, was emphasized as a tool to counteract the depopulation of inland areas.
Climate change, with its new challenges, was at the center of attention, highlighting the need for adequate tools to address them, such as Assisted Evolution Techniques (AET).
The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss the future needs of the agricultural sector. Resources, support for innovation and research, attention to rural and inland areas, and the need to attract young people to agriculture were the main requests that emerged during the debate.
Finally, the issue of food sovereignty and the role of Europe were discussed. De Carlo emphasized the importance of moving from words to actions, concretely supporting farmers, who, although representing a small percentage of the national workforce, play a fundamental role for the country.
The “Tradition and Innovation” meeting offered a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities facing Italian agriculture. The combination of tradition, innovation, and strong political support are the key ingredients for a successful future for the Italian agricultural sector.
