A day of commitment and mobilization from the North to the South of the country. Over 50 thousand farmers in the Coldiretti gathered today, Tuesday 30 April, in 96 assemblies throughout Italy to discuss the challenges and opportunities that the agricultural sector is facing and build, starting from the base, the next battles that will see Coldiretti engaged in the months that will also come in view of the European elections . The event represents a crucial moment for the largest agricultural association in Italy and Europe, which this year celebrates 80 years of activity. In our province, it was Piacenza Expo this morning to host almost 400 members gathered in an assembly to retrace the crucial phases of the organization’s history and to face the next battles. An emotional moment, hosted by the journalist Nicoletta Bracchidirector of Telelibertà and Liberta.it, who after having called the director of Coldiretti Piacenza Roberto Gallizioliintroduced a particularly emotional video, to tell the story of Coldiretti since its birth in 1944 by Paolo Bonomi, and from there the action marked by interventions and results so significant and revolutionary that they changed the trajectory of the country’s economic and social development. The dignity of the farmer, the defense of his health and the commitment to guarantee his profitability are always at the centre.
He was welcomed amid applause at the end of the film Nicola Bertinelli, regional president of Coldiretti Emilia Romagna, national vice-president of Coldiretti and president of the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium. Together with Gallizioli, he was the protagonist – accompanied by videos – of the interview with Bracchi’s microphones, which summarized the successes achieved by Coldiretti, the foresight, coherence and reputation that over the years have made it great, but also the importance of the next goals, starting with the abolition of the customs code.
“Only what comes from Italian agriculture must be recognized as Italian. It is no longer tolerable – explained Bertinelli – to witness scenes like those experienced during the protest at Brenner on 8 and 9 April, when hams, tomato paste, fruit and vegetables arrived which, after the last transformation, essentially became Italian products : Foreign food imports reached an all-time high in 2023. The elimination of the customs code for the origin of food products must be a priority.” And right from Brennero, Coldiretti has started collecting one million signatures to promote a European law that requires the clear indication of origin on all food labels.
There was also talk of protecting the territory from the invasion of uncontrolled wildlife with the need for immediate interventions to save the national agri-food heritage that is increasingly under siege. “The proliferation of species such as wild boars is putting crops and safety in the Italian countryside at risk – underlined Bertinelli -. We call for urgent measures to counter these threats. Added to the damage to crops is that caused by the African swine fever which the 2.3 million wild boars present in the national territory today are spreading in the countryside, endangering the pig farms in the area and, with them, a sector which between production and related industries are worth around 20 billion euros and employ one hundred thousand people. Too much time has been wasted, it’s absurd because we should have acted immediately as we asked.”
Naturally, there is also room for the Pact made with the consumer, in the early 2000s, with the advent of the markets Friendly Campaign with the multifunctionality made possible by the 2001 orientation law desired by Coldiretti, to large events in the cities with the start in 2017 of the Coldiretti villageswithout neglecting the importance of Filiera Italia, thanks to which for the first time the excellent Italian agriculture and food industry are together to defend, support and enhance the Made in Italy. “The Italian agricultural raw material and the transformation in Italy are a recognized value, synonymous with great excellence”.
Naturally, all the issues still open in Europe were addressed and Coldiretti also took center stage in our territory, which Gallizioli highlighted. A story of how much this organization is a point of reference in a province, which continues to excel in terms of agricultural vocation with over 15% of dedicated businesses, an incidence significantly higher than the regional average (11.9%), national ( 11.8%) and neighboring territories.
The services, the assistance, the training, the sharing of trade union battles and of course the events, such as the inauguration, two years ago, of the Campagna Amica Covered Market in via Farnesiana, 17 in Piacenza where the meeting takes place every weekend between producer and consumer in the name of identity, distinctiveness and biodiversity. Because the farmers’ markets of Campagna Amica which also continue successfully in the squares of Piacenza are not just places to buy food products, but laboratories and meeting centers with the farmer which turn into relationships of trust, where the protagonist is the good food that we are proud to represent. This is the unassailable heritage of Coldiretti, the “Friendly Force of the Country”.
