We discuss the main agronomic vulnerabilities that have emerged in the Italian livestock supply chain following the recent global crisis. What are they linked to?
In my view, the main agronomic vulnerabilities of the Italian livestock supply chain derive primarily from fragmentation and the small size of farms, particularly in the North-East. In today’s context of global crisis, I believe it is necessary to focus on cost reduction and production models with a lower environmental impact. However, these solutions are difficult to implement in such a fragmented system.
Do you believe that the crisis could also represent an opportunity for the relaunch of Italian agriculture and animal husbandry?
If so, in what way?
Every crisis can represent an opportunity for a relaunch, including for Italian agriculture and animal husbandry. The key, in this context, is to pursue objectives that allow for the production of high-quality meat at contained costs, in line with consumer needs. This possibility, however, mainly concerns companies that have the capacity to react, invest, and innovate. In periods of crisis, unfortunately, there are many businesses—especially the more marginal ones—that are more at risk of failing and closing than of finding the resources necessary to react. At a time like this, concrete
opportunities could lie in the adoption, where possible, of renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics, biomethane, and other sustainable solutions, as well as in the optimization of water use, particularly within agronomic management.
Which agronomic innovations could increase the resilience of Italian livestock farms in the face of climate crises and global market changes?
From my point of view, the agronomic innovations capable of increasing the resilience of livestock farms mainly involve the reduction, or even the elimination, of chemical fertilizer use, favoring organic fertilization, and…