Genoa. “Food for profit”, or rather the documentary “of the moment” which sheds light on the distortions of the intensive farming system, largely financed by European funds, arrives at the headquarters of the Liguria Region. The screening, organized by the regional councilor of the Sansa List Selena Candia, in collaboration with the municipal councilor of Genoa Francesca Ghio (RossoVerdi) and various local associations, is scheduled for Monday 29 April, at 5pm, at the Sala Colombo; on the ground floor of the Liguria Region tower in via Fieschi 15. The two authors of the documentary will also participate in the screening, Giulia Innocenzi in attendance and Pablo D’Ambrosi via video link.
“After the success of the first screening organized by a network of Genoese associations last April 3 at the Nickelodeon cinema in Genoa, we decided to bring ‘Food for profit’ also within the Regional Council – explains councilor Selena Candia -. The current system with which we produce the food we eat is not sustainable from an environmental and health point of view, and also at a working level it is based on the exploitation of migrants and/or undeclared workers, or ‘contracts’ without protections and rights. For these reasons, a radical change is needed, starting with intensive farming which, I remind you, alone is responsible for 18% of climate-altering gas emissions worldwide, while at an Italian level, livestock farming is responsible for 94.2% of total ammonia emissions. (NH4)”.
The regional councilor combined the screening of the documentary with a motion, already lodged in the Council, to ask the Liguria Region to act as spokesperson to the State-Regions Conference, the competent Ministries and the European Union of three instances: eliminating public subsidies for livestock farming intensive, redistributing these resources towards sustainable agricultural and livestock farms; establish a moratorium on the opening of new intensive farms, while promoting a different model of food production and consumption oriented towards sustainability and a predominantly plant-based diet; promote public discussions on the issues of food and nutrition policies in the form of civic assemblies. Furthermore, the motion also included a reference to the bill “Beyond intensive farming” presented to the Chamber in February, which aims at an ecological conversion plan for existing intensive farming, asking for an immediate moratorium on the opening of new farms and on the increase in the number of animals raised. This latest proposal, currently being examined by parliamentary offices, was born from the path undertaken at national level by the coalition of associations Terra! APS, WWF Italy, Greenpeace Italy, LIPU and ISDE.
“In the document I filed we ask the Region to take action at a local level by promoting public discussions among citizens on food policies to raise awareness and create sustainable supply chains, as is already happening in Bologna, Turin and Rome – underlines Candia -. This local challenge is then accompanied by the battles that the Liguria Region should wage at a national and European level on food policies. To give some numbers, just think that for the period 2021-2027, 387 billion euros of funding have been allocated to Community Agricultural Policies; a figure that also includes 8 billion euros from the NextGenerationEU fund”.
On Monday 29 April, at 5pm, before the screening of the documentary, there will be speeches by Giulia Innocenzi and Pablo D’Ambrosi (directors of the documentary), Selena Candia (regional councillor), Francesca Ghio (city councilor in Genoa), Roberta Massa (coordinator RICIBO Network) and Siliva Cama (Terra! Aps). At the end of the screening, a debate will follow with the associations: Rete Ricibo, Sustainable Citizens, Fridays for Future Genoa, Generazione P, GenovaGreentosa – Studiolambiente, GreenPeace – Local Group Genoa, Gruppo Yoga Solidale Genoa, ISDE- Liguria Regional Section, La Bottega Solidale – Altromercato, LAV, Legambiente Liguria, Terra! Aps, T-Recycling-Children’s low impact, Unigeco, VeGenova, WWF Genoa.
“The documentary shows with strong images the reality that we often pretend not to know, but which is before our eyes every day – highlights Genoa city councilor Francesca Ghio -. I think the work of many journalists who dedicate themselves to these investigations is essential because now more than ever information is in danger, there is a desire to distort reality which is increasingly leading people to feel powerless against large systems productive. We must become aware that, as we have decided and built this reality, we can modify it and change it for a more just and equitable society, for everyone, including animals.”
“’Food for profit’ was also screened at the European Parliament, sparking a strong collective debate regarding the healthiness of our diet and the sustainability of the food policies in place in the Union – concludes Selena Candia -. Our hope is that the same can also happen at the Ligurian level. Food policies can be the point from which to start again at a local, national and European level, to bring together environmental and social justice”.
