A tsunami hit farms with increases in the purchase of fertilizers, packaging, diesel, tools and machinery that are putting their budgets in crisis. This is how Coldiretti denounces in the investigation “The war in the plate” on the effects of the conflict on the agri-food chain presented at the opening of the Cibus.
According to the report, more than 1 farm in 10 (11%) is in such a critical situation as to lead to the cessation of the activity but about 1/3 of the national total (30%) is still forced to work at this time in a condition of negative income due to the increase in production costs. It is the direct and indirect effects of expensive energy with agricultural and food production that in Italy absorb over 11% of total industrial energy consumption for about 13.3 million tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe) per year. The increases in energy prices – underlines Coldiretti – therefore have a devastating impact on the supply chain, from the field to the table. In the agricultural system, direct energy consumption includes fuel for tractors, greenhouses and transport, while indirect consumption is derived from plant protection, fertilizers and the use of materials such as plastic (4.7 Mtoe). On the other hand, the food sector requires – continues Coldiretti – large quantities of energy, especially heat and electricity, for the processes of production, transformation, conservation of products of animal and vegetable origin, operation of the machines and air conditioning of the production and work environments (8.6 Mtoe).
“Responsibility is needed on the part of the entire food supply chain with agreements between agriculture, industry and distribution to ensure a more equitable distribution of value, also by combating unfair practices in compliance with the law that prohibits purchasing food below production costs”, says the president of Coldiretti Ettore Prandini in underlining “the need for resources to support the sector at a time when a scenario of hoarding, speculation and uncertainty has opened up that must push the country to defend its food sovereignty”.