“First of all, there has been a postponement of a few weeks for the application of tariffs, which likely indicates the United States is interested in negotiations. Furthermore, Europe cannot be subservient to the United States, either in defense or economic matters: the West must align, as we cannot envision a Western world where the United States acts independently. Hence, Europe must gain awareness of its own strengths and capacities. I am optimistic; after all, we are resilient,” he explained. Over recent years, “the Meloni government has performed quite well, particularly with ministers Tajani and Lollobrigida, in promoting ‘Made in Italy’: events like ‘Agricoltura È’ have aided the recovery of the sector, raising awareness in the country that the agri-food sector, including primary agriculture, can be a growing force for Italians. This has yielded results, as in the last two years, agri-food exports have increased from 63 billion to 70 billion.”
Notably, “the growth of Italian exports is driven by the economies of the South, which have been the most disadvantaged over the last decades, but possess significant growth prospects. We do not seek handouts; we need serious investments: here in Calabria, we have focused on this. We have strengthened companies and accelerated spending. We have seen double-digit export growth, in certain quarters reaching even 25%, because we have sought markets that can appreciate our products and pay for quality. Certainly, the United States is an important market for us, and we are beginning to tap into it. Numerous promotional initiatives, like Vinitaly in Chicago or the Winter Fancy Food show in Las Vegas, have produced tangible results for our businesses.”
The tariffs “could pose a setback, but we are not intimidated because we will find alternatives. We need to identify markets that can absorb our products, which are not abundant but excel in quality,” he elaborated. “No one anticipated that President Trump would initiate this trade war with European allies, but it happened: over the years, the ICE has performed well in searching for alternatives to the U.S. market, with a substantial increase of 7 million euros, over 10% in exports. This indicates a focus on Middle Eastern and Asian markets that are fond of Made in Italy. We must intensify these relationships to open further opportunities. For example, the end of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict could provide us with immediate access to Russia, which was an important market for us; our wines could find substantial space there as there are no such restrictions as observed in the Western world, including in our own country.”
Calabria is a niche producer, “with less than 20 million bottles produced: a single winery in Veneto or Abruzzo produces that amount, but we have divided it among 150 wineries, which in recent years have effectively managed generational transitions, including many young people and women who have returned after experiences outside the region. This is the challenge for the South: it is not about massive crops or large-scale production, but rather the challenge of specializing, focusing on quality in a South that can connect products with its territory, characterized by ‘preserved villages, a temperate and enjoyable climate year-round, wonderful inland areas, national parks’ that can ‘offer sustainable and slow environmental tourism. I believe all this pairs well with high-quality gastronomic technology.”
Few realize that Calabria “is among the European leaders in organic farming: we use 35% of our agricultural land for organic purposes, ranking first in Italy and third in Europe. Additionally, since 2016, we have prohibited our farmers from using glyphosate: this makes life very challenging for our farmers, but it ensures health and prevention,” along with “environmental sustainability” achieved “through agricultural funds, investing 100 million euros annually. Today, the environment is of great importance, but it is not fundamental in the actions of the European Commission regarding agriculture,” as noted in the program document by the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Christophe Hansen, “which for the first time addresses food sovereignty,” Gallo recalled. Hansen recently met with Calabrian institutions at ‘Agricoltura È’.
In Calabria, the emergencies we need to address “are immaterial” and relate to “the necessity of scientific and technological innovation, which will also draw young people to the agri-food sector: we must convey to them that agriculture today is not what it once was, now governed through technological innovation processes. We need to emphasize the importance of training and cooperation in our land, which will result in significant advancements in these sectors.” Can agriculture truly become a tool for employment for younger generations? “I am convinced it can; we need to show our youth that it’s possible to live well in the South, to produce with a passion for quality and sell globally using the resources available today,” affirms Gallo.
– photo Italpress –
