In evidenza, Area stampa
Italy’s agricultural sector is a fundamental pillar of the country’s competitiveness. Contributing 15.6% to the Italian economy, it encompasses a vast supply chain from agriculture, food processing, and distribution to intermediation and retail. This sector not only drives economic growth but also supports rural development and sustainability practices.
Italy’s agricultural sector is renowned for its high-quality produce, including wine, olive oil, and pasta.
The country’s varied climate and fertile soil allow for the cultivation of a wide range of crops. Key regions such as Tuscany, Sicily, and Emilia-Romagna are known for their agricultural output.
The northern regions primarily produce grains, soybeans, meat, and dairy products, while the southern regions specialize in fruits, vegetables, olive oil, wine, and durum wheat.
KEY FIGURES
Italy excels in several areas:
– Pasta Industry: Italy dominates the pasta industry with 73% of EU sales.
– Wine Production: Contributing 28% of EU production, second only to France.
– BVP Products (Bakery, Viennoiserie, Pastry): Accounting for 21%.
– Processed Fruits and Vegetables: Significant market player.
– Tea, Coffee, and Herbal Teas: Major contributor.
– Milling and Rice Industry: Responsible for 17% of EU production.
Italy’s agricultural landscape is vast and diverse, with around 1.1 million farms spanning approximately 12.6 million hectares.
More than 50% of the total area under agricultural use is classified as mountainous or with natural constraints.
53% of the Italian population lives in rural or intermediate areas, with the agriculture and forestry sectors being important economic drivers.
The turnover of Italy’s agri-food sector is substantial. The entire supply chain, which includes agriculture, food processing, distribution, intermediation, and retail sectors, reached a turnover of €586.9 billion in 2024. This marks an 8.4% increase from 2021 and a 29% leap since 2015.
Record Exports:
– In 2023, Italy’s agri-food exports surged by 6.6% year-on-year, reaching an all-time high of €63.1 billion, up from just over €42 billion in 2018
– The EU-27 countries are the primary destination for Italian agri-food exports, making up 59.4% of the total exports. Similarly, 70.5% of Italy’s agri-food imports come from these countries.
– Exports to Germany and France, Italy’s primary agri-food markets, grew by around 10%. Sales to the UK rose by 7.8%, while exports to the US increased more modestly by 2%.
– Imports: Imports also peaked at €64.7 billion, marking a 4.1% increase from 2022.
– Trade Balance: These figures have positively impacted Italy’s agri-food trade balance.
THE DIFFICULTIES CONFRONTING ITALY’S AGRICULTURAL SECTOR.
However, the Italian agricultural sector has faced significant challenges over the past 2 decades. Production is now 10% lower than it was 20 years ago.
Factors contributing to this decline include:
– Extreme climate events such as droughts, floods, and cold snaps, which have caused substantial damage. The historical droughts and climate change have particularly affected the northern regions, which account for 40% of Italy’s agricultural production.
– Water infrastructure issues are multifaceted: Aging and inefficient water infrastructure leads to significant water wastage and hinders effective irrigation.
– Economic Pressures: Rising costs for inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and fuel strain farmers’ budgets, while market prices for produce may not keep pace.
– Labor Shortages: Finding skilled labor is a challenge, particularly during peak seasons, affecting productivity.
– Global Competition: Competitive pressures from international markets can affect the profitability of Italian agricultural products.
Farmers have struggled to maintain crop yields, and many agricultural businesses are at risk. That’s why to prevent future risks, a €270 million fund was designed for companies in the agriculture, agri-food, livestock, and fisheries sectors to manage emergency situations. It is financed with €90 million annually over 2024, 2025, and 2026.
ITALY’S AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IS A SIGNIFICANT PLAYER IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
Italy holds a significant position in the European agricultural market.
In the EU-27, since 2023 Italy has ranked 3rd behind France and Germany for agricultural production by value, with a market share of 14% (previously 2nd behind France). Italy lost a place in terms of agricultural production between 2022 and 2023.
Italy also ranks 3rd in the EU for its food industry. It has 70,000 food industries (mainly family-run SMEs), accounting for 12% of total added value, behind Germany and France, but ahead of Spain.
It is the leader in the pasta industry (over 73% of turnover), plays a major role in wine production (28%, second only to France), BVP products (21%), the processed fruit and vegetable market, the tea, coffee and herbal tea industry, and the milling and rice industry (17% of EU production).
THE IMPORTANCE OF CREDIT INSURANCE IN STRENGTHENING ITALY’S AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY
Credit insurance has become a crucial solution that:
Covers the risk of non-payment
Secures business development
This is particularly important in sectors like agriculture, which are exposed to numerous risks threatening the long-term survival of businesses.
By mitigating these risks, credit insurance helps ensure the stability and growth of companies in vulnerable industries
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Sources :
@https://www.linkedin.com/school/rome-business-school/
@https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/italianfoodnet/
@https://www.linkedin.com/company/agea-agenzia-per-le-erogazioni-in-agricoltura/
