From the field to Recovery, the strategy to make one of the Italian prides even more competitive and sustainable

A 3-point growth in GDP by 2026, Mario Draghi’s forecast for Italy. The PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) is in Brussels. The EU Commission will have to give its final opinion by August 1st and, if approved, Italy will be the recipient of the first 25 billion by September. There are a total of 222 billion between the European funds of the Recovery Plan (191.5 billion) and national resources (about 30 billion). Six areas of intervention have been identified: digitization and innovation; ecological transition (which accounts for 30% of the total); infrastructure and mobility; education and research; inclusion and cohesion; health.

With the PNRR, the entire agri-food chain will have to be able to innovate and make its activities sustainable, for which over € 6.8 billion has been allocated. Innovation of production processes, training for the use of technological and digital tools, new ways to reduce the environmental and economic impact.

From the field to the table, sustainability is the new mantra, not only meditative but increasingly concrete and effective. The European Union is asking for it, with the Green Deal and the Farm to fork strategy, which require by 2030 to reduce:

  • use of pesticides and related risks by 50%
  • the use of fertilizers by at least 20%
  • sales of antimicrobials used for farm animals and aquaculture by 50%
  • and to achieve the goal of allocating 25% of agricultural land to organic farming.

Changes of paradigms also expected by the Recovery Plan, which will concretely give economic support to those who invest in sustainable innovation.

These are the breakdowns of the funds:

  • 800 million for logistics
  • 1.5 billion to replace the roofs of agricultural establishments with photovoltaic systems (agrisolare)
  • 500 million for the modernization of agricultural machinery
  • 1.2 billion, in the complementary fund, for Supply Chain Contracts, towards profound innovation
  • 2 billion for the development of biogas and biomethane production and technologies
  • 880 million for the reservoirs and the irrigation system, to increase the collection capacity of rainwater.

The Italian agri-food heritage has nothing to hide and, in the year of the pandemic, it grew mainly in exports, in contrast to the national economy. According to a Coldiretti analysis, based on Istat data, exports of agri-food products increased by 1.4%. It is above all Germany that buys Italian (+ 5.5%), followed, despite the duties, by the United States (+ 5.2%). The Italian agri-food sector is, therefore, a champion of resilience, taste and wholesomeness. The leadership in organic farming is Italian with over 60,000 organic farms. Last but not least, the primacy of world food security with the lowest number of agri-food products with irregular chemical residues. ITA0039 | 100% Italian Taste Certification has been operating for years through its certification process, verifying that behind the classic symbols of Italianness shown on the packaging and on the signs, there is an authentic Italian restaurant, which uses original products from Italian suppliers.

It is the protection and enhancement of our traditions, which inspire the path of the ITA0039 protocol supported by valid partners and by the growing enthusiasm found in the many Italian restaurateurs and producers around the world. Available to restaurateurs, producers and consumers, the APP ITA0039 is the technological solution, designed by ASACERT, for the protection of the real Made in Italy, in restaurants and pizzerias all over the world. An instrument part of the extensive ITA0039 Project.

The Italians have taught the world to eat by sitting down at the table. However, over the years anyone who has gone abroad and wanted to try an Italian restaurant, out of curiosity or nostalgia, often found himself in front of disappointing folk representations and light years away from our kitchen, if we then talk about the products, we come across the true Achilles heel of our trade balance in the agri-food sector. This is one of the motivational levers of ITA0039, the certification instrument of recognition and authenticity, an articulated and reliable network, dedicated to the enhancement and dissemination of the Italian food and wine product in the world. There is a need for sustainability and healthiness, with or without PNRR, ITA0039 is there!” The words of Fabrizio Capaccioli – CEO ASACERT and creator of the ITA0039 Protocol.