Coldiretti Farmers Prepare for European Elections and Celebrate 80 Years

On April 30th, at least 50,000 farmers from Coldiretti are preparing to gather in 96 assemblies in provinces across Italy ahead of the European elections and as part of the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the agricultural organization. In Sannio, a plenary assembly has been called for the occasion, both for the 80th anniversary and for a discussion on regional measures related to some of the most significant issues affecting the lives of businesses, agriculture, and the agri-food sector of the province. The meeting, not coincidentally, will be held from 11 am at Cecas, the facility that hosted the second edition of "CampaniAlleva", whose great success has rewarded the work of President Davide Minicozzi and Director Augusto Calbi. "It will be an opportunity," explains Gennarino Masiello, provincial president and national vice president of Coldiretti, "to first and foremost have a day of celebration for our organization, which has so far earned a more and more incisive syndical presence and role, a great social force useful not only to agriculture but also to the country." On the same occasion, it will be possible to become aware of the regional measures for the sector, starting from the olive-growing plan to the new measures for the wine sector and measures to tackle the wild boar emergency; a focus also on the regional programming calls for proposals soon to open without neglecting to analyze the innovations in agriculture to be introduced with the Demetra application. Among the themes of the "Coldiretti Pride Day", the European signature collection for mandatory origin labeling on all foods, wildlife, the moratorium on debts in favor of agricultural companies "that have invested and that in the last two years have suffered from the increase in interest rates and strong income problems". The same agricultural organization announced this in a statement. Among other topics, "unfair imports", the "fake made in Italy", and "the request for a reservoir plan that, especially in this historical period, can and must become a valid ally against climate change". At the center of the meetings will be the collection of signatures "for a European popular law to ensure transparency on the labels of all foods" and "the abolition of the customs code for the origin of food, which must become a priority". For Coldiretti, "April 30th will be an opportunity to relaunch the commitment to denounce to institutions and citizen consumers, that one cannot but stand by the agricultural producers who commit every day to bring to the tables of Italians the excellences of our territories and to stop the uncontrolled arrival of products from abroad". On uncontrolled wildlife, defined as "a national emergency from an agricultural and safety point of view", the agricultural organization notes that "there are no extraordinary regional control plans" and "effective normative tools to defend the territory from a real invasion that is putting a sector at risk". In particular, Coldiretti has asked for "an immediate intervention to stop the spread of swine fever".