(Arv) Venice 28 March. 2024 – The book ‘Bio Adversità, the vice of monocultures in the High Lands’, by Giannandrea Mencini, 279 pages, Kellermann Editore, was presented today at Palazzo Ferro Fini. The preface was edited by Letizia Bindi.
The initiative was desired and promoted by the regional councilor Andrea Zanoni (Pd), president of the Fourth Council Commission, responsible for legality.
“It is a very important book as it provides documented and extensive evidence of what is happening in our countryside and, in particular, in the most fragile areas of the Veneto, such as the mountainous and hilly areas, where the exploitation of monocultures, in particular the wine sector which, by bringing pesticides and the use of chemicals even when there should not be any, is creating serious problems for biodiversity, the environment and aquifers – began Zanoni – From reading the data, provided by the Veneto Region for monitoring around in achieving the objectives indicated by the UN Agenda 2030, it emerges that our Region is behind and even seriously late as regards the ‘Life on Earth’ objective for the protection of the landscape, biodiversity and environmental sustainability ”.
“I report some data – continued the president of the Fourth Commission – The wine monoculture in Veneto is now a fact. The Region has invested a lot of public money in this sector of agriculture, even to the detriment of other crops. Suffice it to say that in the decade 2009/2019, 580 million euros were invested. Instead, we should also use this money to help sustainable and organic crops. And we have 101 thousand hectares of land cultivated with viticulture in Veneto. In particular, in the province of Belluno, it went from 30 hectares in 2010 to 285 in 2022. While in Treviso it went from 28 to 43 thousand hectares; in Verona from 26 to 30 thousand”.
“And I underline how these intensive crops cause an increase in diseases, such as the proliferation of the leafhopper which brings the flavescence dorée which affects the vineyards, now present without interruption – added Zanoni – Not to mention the increasingly massive use of pesticides: as many as 15.8 million kilos in 2021 in Veneto, on average 3.3 kilos per person. And, paradoxically, checks are decreasing, with obvious damage to health. As a council commission we have explored the phenomenon of accidents at work and professional diseases in Veneto, and we have seen how four cases of Parkinson’s are closely related to the use of chemical products in viticulture”.
“I remember – concluded Andrea Zanoni – that Veneto, on the organic front, is far from that 25 percent of agricultural land indicated by the European Commission as the objective to be achieved by 2030. From 2021 to 2023, we have even lost 8,500 hectares, going from 6 to 5 percent organic. Because the organic, here, is not supported, but rather criminalized. And with the disappearance of biodiversity, sparrows are also disappearing which, from common birds have become a rarity, not to mention swallows. Finally, ARPAV data indicates the presence of pesticide residues in surface waters, with clear damage to biodiversity, the environment, our waters and public health”.
The author, Giannandrea Mencini, recalled that “this book is the result of my second investigative work, after having tackled, in the first, ‘Pascoli di carta’, the so-called ‘pasture mafia’. The volume examines the consequences, for the environment and health, determined by intensive monocultures in the High Lands, such as the prosecco of the Northeast, the apples of the Val di Non, the hazelnut groves that are invading almost all of Italy and also the North, linked to the production of a sweet cream. I denounce the massive use of pesticides and chemical products in agriculture, as well as the changes our landscapes have undergone, with the disappearance of ditches and hedges, which are important ecosystems. I remember that the excessive use of monocultures sparked multiple protests from citizens who intervened to defend organic farming. Which is certainly not impossible: in Italy we find many virtuous examples, and I acknowledge this in my book. Agricultural companies that have chosen to undertake organic and biodynamic methods, including in the production of wine and hazelnuts, respecting the environment, native crops and agricultural biodiversity”.
Giannandrea Mencini, in his book, undertakes a journey to the Highlands to investigate the loss of biodiversity in our country due to the proliferation of intensive crops. Accurate testimonies are reported on the environmental, health and biodiversity consequences caused by the spread of monocultures in Italy. But not only negative aspects are highlighted, because there are also virtuous and winning stories ranging from Veneto to Alto Molise, passing through Lazio, demonstrating that diversified and sustainable agriculture is also possible, based on respect for the territory and its rural history.
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