ALEXANDRIA – “Coldiretti pride means 80 years of history in defense of members, direct farmers but also alongside society, citizens, to protect local products and the biodiversity that characterize our countryside. We are ready for new challenges, there will be many and not easy ones, but we have clear trajectories for the future and we know which path to follow with the enthusiasm, strength and determination that have always distinguished us”. As Mauro BiancoPresident Coldiretti Alessandriafrom the stage of the multipurpose hall of San Micheal that he saw hundreds of farmers coming from every part of the province to celebrate the day ofColdiretti pridean important moment to shed light on the future challenges, on the battles and mobilizations that Coldiretti is carrying out and will continue in the coming months.
“A day that represents an achievement because a trade union organization must be proud of the path it has taken. It is right to think about a pride that comes from 80 years of history, of support for the economic income of agricultural companies and protection of the supply chain to enhance local and national products but we also know that a future lies ahead where the challenges will be increasingly complex and we will face them together with our partners”, added the Director of Coldiretti Alessandria Roberto Bianco.
In fact, national food sovereignty is threatened by the invasion of foreign products with food imports increasing by 60% in the last decade, reaching a record value of 65 billion euros, according to Coldiretti analysis of data Istat. Products often come from countries that do not respect the same rules of food and environmental safety and respect for workers’ rights and which are often passed off as tricolor by taking advantage of the customs code that allows them to be “Italianized” thanks to minimal processing. The other problem that weighs on company balance sheets is the collapse of prices paid to producers, to which is added the phenomenon of unfair practices.
“We ask for a stop to unfair competition which damages Italian and European farmers subjected to regulations and constraints that are often out of touch with reality. We want the environmental, social and health obligations imposed on our producers to apply to anyone who wants to sell on the European market. We need reciprocity in trade – continued the President Mauro Bianco -. Another priority is the abolition of the customs code, we must stop imported foods which, thanks to minimal processing, magically become Italian, reviewing the criterion of the last substantial transformation. It is no longer acceptable to witness scenes like those we experienced during the mobilization at Brenner, where we saw the arrival of foreign hams, tomato paste, fruit or vegetables destined to become Italian products in all respects”.
From the stage, with the presidents of the Zone and the leaders of the Movements, the strengths and problems that the sectors have to face were addressed, from cereals to livestock, from wine to fruit and vegetables up to internationalization and of course the great theme of damage caused by wildlife and African swine fever, with the number of wild boar slaughters still remaining low in the area.
“This assembly – concluded the Director Roberto Bianco – represents the opportunity to reiterate that the strong point of agriculture are the direct farmers who always believe in their profession despite the hardships, weather and market adversities: agriculture is and remains the primary sector because without food we cannot live ”. Yesterday was an opportunity to promote the nofakeinitaly signature collection, aimed at obtaining a popular European law to guarantee transparency on the labels of all foods on the market in the European Union.
