Made in Italy at risk
Immediate action is needed to stop the spread of swine fever and protect a sector that is one of the flagships of Made in Italy at the table, with a value between production and related industries of approximately 20 billion euros and one hundred thousand jobs. This is the appeal launched by Coldiretti which asks for a change of pace on the management of a presence of wild boars now out of control which is facilitating the spread of diseases and threatens farms, after the latest case recorded in the Parma Food Valley. Wildlife is practically the only vector for the spread of swine fever.
A different approach
Yet, according to current rules, a sick boar found kilometers away from a stable is enough to trigger the decision to cull thousands of perfectly healthy pigs. Minister Lollobrigida did well – notes Coldiretti – to therefore ask the European Commission for a different approach, which protects businesses and consumers. The only solution to stop the spread of swine fever is, in fact, to implement all possible actions to contain the invasion of wildlife that steals income and future from agricultural businesses.
A real “army”
We are talking about an "army" of 2,3 million wild boars that today roam undisturbed across the Italian countryside, spreading the disease but also devastating agricultural crops. The immediate risk is that the spread of swine fever will trigger export restrictions, with potential damage of 2,32 billion euros, according to Coldiretti analysis of ISTAT data relating to foreign trade in 2023.
A supply chain at risk
But at risk there is a supply chain like the Italian pig sector which is one of the best performing in the entire national agri-food system - concludes Coldiretti - with 5.000 professional breeders and another 30.000 small farmers in total, 10 million pigs are raised which represent the product of basis for the supply chain of the great Italian DOP hams (Parma San Daniele but not only) as well as the other 20 typical DOP cured meats. (Source COLDIRETTI)