The spotlight is on what we eat and drink at the Teatro del Monaco in Treviso, where the Coldiretti regional assembly was held today. Multinationals and Brussels are in the sights of the National President of the Association. This comes after a season of strong social tensions among farmers in the European Union, which has become under special surveillance.
Multinationals and Brussels in the sights of Coldiretti
The words of Coldiretti President Ettore Prandini: “The reforms of some community regulations, we are thinking in particular of the customs code which gives the possibility to products that are imported into Italy, which are not Italian, to become Italian agri-food. As the last phase of transformation is carried out in our country. For us, Italian is what comes from Italian agriculture and nothing else.”
“In addition to this there is also the whole issue regarding reciprocity. The rules imposed on Italian agricultural companies must also apply to everything we import. And we believe that from this point of view, Europe can no longer be the place where these things are indulged in favor of a few multinationals who are increasingly trying to globalize the agri-food production system.”
Reciprocity and controls on imported agri-food products
On the same wavelength Luigi Scordamaglia, CEO Filiera Italiana, attacks European ports and in particular Rotterdam. Here cargoes come together with meat, cereals and fruit and vegetables produced with prohibited substances. But we also need to roll up our sleeves to protect the internal market from the tsunami of multinationals.
Scordamaglia: “We have two open fronts to defend ourselves from. The first is an external front towards everything that is imported into our country, onto our market. The second is the internal front, even more dangerous. As regards the external front, we have asked for an intensification of controls. We also asked that European ports, unlike only Italian ports, carry out checks. Otherwise we leave very wide loopholes open, like the port of Rotterdam from which the worst rubbish arrives on the Italian market.”
“But the home front is equally important. We have a very serious conflict of a food dictatorship system versus food democracy. The food dictatorship, that is, those who would like to impose, like global multinationals, ultra-processed, homogenizing food that destroys discontinuities. Food democracy is what we support, respect for a network of small and medium-sized businesses and above all the distinctiveness of our excellence. We are not giving anyone any discounts on this.”
Coldiretti Village
And finally a thought about Venice, where the Coldiretti Village will be held from 28 to 30 June along Riva degli Schiavoni. An event that sparked controversy among residents due to the inconveniences experienced during the setup.
President Coldiretti speaks: “Venice is an extraordinary city. Unfortunately, we will certainly cause even some small disturbances to the population and citizens. Allow me: I take this opportunity today to apologize to the citizens of Venice. But we are sure, as has already happened in all the other cities, that when they see the beauty of the village and what we are going to offer to the many citizens who come to visit us, they too will be proud.”
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