Cia farmers, ready for a green and digital transition but guaranteeing income

Italian farmers are ready to make their contribution to the green and digital transition, and indeed to lead it. Ready for the challenge imposed by Europe with the dictates and resources allocated in the new CAP, with a NRP strongly oriented in this direction, and last but not least, with the measures and funds of the budget law. Therefore, national and European resources to be spent at their best and providing aid for a fairer, greener and digital agricultural sector in Italy. On these issues, the national assembly “Italian farmers leader of the transition” of the CIA Italian farmers led by Dino Scanavino was held today in Rome. But guaranteeing those who make agriculture resources, tools and incentives adequate to the challenges in place means recognizing the strategic and irreplaceable role of the primary sector, which is not only that of producing healthy and safe food for all, but also of ensuring its stability and development. of the territories; safeguard the soil and forests against hydrogeological instability and climate change, manage water resources, produce energy from renewable sources, increase the sustainability of production processes with research and new technologies, defend the landscape and biodiversity. “It is no longer the season of waiting, but that of action” said Scanavino in launching an appeal to national and European institutions. Appeal that the Minister of Agricultural Policies Stefano Patuanelli received by presenting himself to the audience of the hundreds of producers gathered in the capital from all over Italy. “Maximum attention to support the income of farmers, which in our country is still too low,” said the minister. And never as this year remembers the CIA, the sector has suffered the direct consequences of climate change with + 60% of extreme events only in 2021, including floods and droughts, which have cut 10% of food on the tables and caused damage to millions. to companies. “The guideline must be to guarantee farmers to do an excellent job in the ecological and digital transition, and have an adequate income” said Patuanelli, remarking that “it is their right” as the farmer is also “the first custodian of the territory. “recognizing in fact the role of agriculture as a protection of the soil, on the basis of which food producers, farmers and ranchers are no longer seen only as the polluters of the planet. Indeed, they are able to make a contribution to cutting CO2 emissions by sequestering 0.5 tons of carbon per hectare per year and given that 40% of companies in the sector are affected by forests that absorb up to 40% of carbon emissions. greenhouse gases globally and, in Italy alone, they retain about 90 million tons of carbon dioxide. A contribution in progress that of the primary sector, which in recent years has reduced its emissions by 25%, limited the consumption of water and the use of chemicals by 27%, increased biological surfaces by 56% and greatly expanded the production of renewable energy and biomass + 690%. However, the reverse of the coin is the use of diesel fuel for agricultural vehicles, a recognized source of pollution but to which, at the moment, there are no alternatives, as admitted by the minister himself who, although guaranteeing investments in research and development to find other solutions , he wanted to reassure farmers about the government’s commitment to maintain the subsidy to facilitate its use.