The Campania has risen to the top of the ranking of the Regions by quantity of Italian DOP and IGP brands and look to the funds of the PNRR to expand the sustainable agricultural-industrial system. Quality Campanian food is worth overall 781 million euro and with the new agricultural programming it will be able to increase further. The XIX Report Ismea – Qualivita this time has pointed its virtuous hands decisively towards the South. Only there mozzarella di bufala, produced in the two provinces of Salerno and Caserta, has a market value of 414 million euro. Then there is the Gragnano pasta IGP and other controlled brand products. Missing, for now, the oil with PGI denomination. That the farms have invested in the transformation and protection of dozens of products in a region long tormented by environmental damage is therefore a fact. The fact that it is also recognized by the National Agricultural Institute turns into an incentive to do even better. There is, therefore, attention to the next steps.
The strength of companies
The crisis in the agricultural sector, however, is making itself felt here too. Two days ago farmers took to the streets in Salerno to ask for economic support against high energy prices and the increase in fertilizer prices. Nonetheless, Ismea has established that the businesses of the South and the islands are increased in turnover by 7,5%. In the North, the DOP and IGP brands of national food are doing just as well, but the main successes in terms of production and exports are from Rome downwards. Eight Southern Regions generate 16% of the total national value with a record turnover of 2,7 billion euros. All this because they are on the pitch 286 Consortia for the protection of the food and wine sectors, 200 operators and a good list of green agriculture initiatives.
The President of CIA Farmers Campania, Alessandro Mastrocinque, try to explain the phenomenon: "The numbers testify to the foresight of investments in supply chains as incubators of economies to be spread radially across the territories". An economic fallout never seen before. Among the excellences, as we said, olive oil is still lacking, of which the inland areas of the Region are rich above all with intensive production and with good environmental sustainability indexes. The wait should be short-lived as the file is in the hands of the European Commission. The relationship between the countryside and companies for marketing on foreign markets is also strengthened.
Investments for the environment
The success decreed by Ismea can also be traced back to the development of economic polesthose born around the protection consortia. They testify to the propensity to network as in many other parts of Italy, but they should be organized even better. After all, they have the right to enter productive districts with full rights and thus raise employment and incomes. For 2022 PNRR funds are an opportunity more greedy to measure the strength of agricultural and processing companies to overcome unfavorable economic situations. And not just in food, given the long value chain that unites driven sectors.
After all, in 2021 the Region exceeded by more 90 million euro the decommitment threshold (withdrawal of future funds) of European agricultural expenditure. The regional context still has environmental needs, biodiversity, clean energy. More than 53% of the funds so far has gone to interventions for the environment and "almost 55% - explained the Councilor for agriculture Nicholas Caputo - interventions aimed at combating climate change". There was still no trace of the success given by Ismea at the end of 2021. Now we need to take good note of it and try not to back down.
