“No problems for supermarkets thanks to our productive strength and no new duties”. The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine does not jeopardize the supply of raw materials necessary for the production of foods such as pasta or biscuits. The Minister of Agricultural and Forestry Policies, Stefano Patuanelli, is convinced of this, speaking on the broadcast “Sunday Coffee” on Radio24. The minister admitted problems with the supply of raw materials “from countries in conflict, or which are close to the conflict”, but “a reassuring message must be given” because there is no risk “of an assault on supermarkets”.
Commercial choices weigh
As the minister recalled, Italy is the world‘s leading producer of durum wheat, but at the same time “Italians are large consumers of this product and for this reason we need to import wheat in the balance”. Not only. “It is also the commercial and consumer choices that weigh on the ability to self-produce these raw materials”. At the moment, what worries the minister and the government itself the most is Hungary’s choice to block exports and thus put the common market in difficulty. In this sense, Patuanelli revealed, there was direct contact between Prime Minister Draghi and the Hungarian leader Orban, specifying that Hungary has ensured compliance with existing contracts.
Yes to the deviation
To support businesses, however, new resources are needed and the minister is not afraid to utter the word deviation, adding to the list of ministers asking for a new deficit. “I’ve been saying this for a few weeks and we are asking for it as a political force (M5S),” Patuanelli specified. “We don’t like running a deficit. The risk of debt is there but it is lower than the risk of the possible closure of our businesses. The speculative bubble is destined to explode and when it does we could only resist if we have kept our production system tight ”. And to the question of the presenter Maria Latella if Minister Franco and Prime Minister Draghi are reluctant, the Minister of Agriculture stressed that «they are not reluctant but are only very attentive to the weight that a deviation may have. Soon the Council will decide ».
Importing GMO feed is not taboo
Another issue on which the minister tried to throw water on the fire is that of the supply of feed for animals due to the problems caused by the war in Ukraine. On the issue, in recent days, some trade associations had raised the alarm on the possibility of not finding feed and therefore having to kill the animals so as not to starve them. “I do not see an emergency supply but high production costs”, Patuanelli emphasized, specifying however that in a delicate and critical phase such as the current one, those obstacles that today prohibit the importation from other countries of feed made with genetically modified products could be removed. “The ban, the minister recalled, exists for food but not for feed. For the latter, the protocols adopted by the consortia should be modified “. Basically, the minister specified, “the CAP should not be changed but only suspended. We have to bear the costs of the transition that the war is now blowing up. Sacrosanct restraints such as those on GMOs must be removed, just as I am certain of the path taken on the ecological transition, but I cannot accept now – underlined Patuanelli – that the farmer kills his animals.
Energy speculation to be blocked immediately
The Minister of Agriculture joined the cry of alarm launched by his government colleague in charge of the Ecological Transition, Roberto Cingolani, on the great speculation taking place on energy products and for road transport. “We are facing a huge speculation on raw materials and agricultural goods such as wheat,” said Patuanelli. «We need to get out of this speculative spiral, putting a European ceiling, for example, on the price of gas. It is a situation that leads to a generalized increase in the price of products and weakens our producers, our farmers “