Extensive damage to crops
It is urgent to increase wild boar depopulation numbers. As Coldiretti Cuneo has repeatedly emphasized , their presence in our region remains too high, creating health problems and extensive damage to crops, with significant economic repercussions for agricultural businesses. This was also evident during the meeting of the regional pig industry with the Special Commissioner for Swine Fever, Giovanni Filippini, held at the Coldiretti Piemonte conference room. The meeting was attended by the regional pig council, the presidents and directors of the provincial federations, Giorgio Sapino, Piedmont Commissioner for ASF, and Giorgio Apostoli, Coldiretti's national livestock manager.
The usefulness of the health strategy
The meeting was opened by Bruno Rivarossa, confederation delegate, followed by remarks by Bruno Mecca Cici, vice president of Coldiretti Piemonte with responsibility for livestock, Luca Saba, head of Coldiretti's economic area, and Commissioner Giovanni Filippini. "We must certainly recognize that the health strategy implemented by Commissioner Filippini to safeguard our pig herd has borne fruit," stated Enrico Nada, President of Coldiretti Cuneo. "The easing of restrictions was crucial in allowing businesses to regain a future, as they had faced significant limitations and sustained significant financial efforts to increase biosecurity levels. However, we cannot lower our guard against swine fever, just as we cannot ignore the damage that wild boars continue to cause to crops: in 2024, this amounted to €4 million, an increase compared to 2023."
An entire supply chain at risk
"The current international scenario shows us that Europe needs a strong, autonomous, and increasingly sustainable agriculture. This also requires the complete eradication of swine fever and a concrete and drastic reduction in the number of wild boars. The entire Cuneo pig supply chain, which is among the most economically important in the agricultural business landscape, is at risk," adds Francesco Goffredo, Director of Coldiretti Cuneo. The Cuneo pig supply chain comprises approximately 800 farms and nearly 900.000 heads, primarily destined for the protected circuits of the main Italian PDOs for the production of the finest Italian cured meats, such as Prosciutto di Parma and Prosciutto di San Daniele (source: Coldiretti).
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