At the 543rd Regional Agricultural Fair of Abbiategrasso: the strength of the land facing today's challenges

The 543rd edition of the Regional Agricultural Fair of Abbiategrasso opens today, one of the most historic and representative events for our territory and for the entire Lombard agri-food chain. Under this year's slogan, "The strength of the Land, for the balance of tomorrow", the event — running from 17 to 19 October — is not only a showcase of local excellence, but a true moment of fundamental discussion on the future of the sector.

Today's participation aims to shine a spotlight on a sector that is the backbone of the economy of our territory and that is going through a phase of complex transition and serious difficulties.

A sector between economic pressure and climate change

Today farmers and agricultural enterprises face unprecedented challenges on multiple fronts, such as rising production costs, reduced margins and extreme weather events.

"The numbers don't add up": the farmers' alarm

A cry of alarm coming from the entire supply chain, which closely concerns the farms of our territory as well. With rising production costs, prices insufficient to reward labour and ever-shrinking margins, farms struggle more and more to guarantee the continuity of their activities. A crisis that threatens not only business profitability, but also employment, local economies and food security.

The difficulties affect several sectors, from cereal growing to viticulture, from fruit and vegetables to livestock, up to the great quality supply chains. Energy, fuel, fertilisers and feed weigh on farm budgets, while the effects of climate change demand further investment. And there is the question of fairness in the agri-food chain: too often farmers are left with an insufficient share of the final value of products, while consumers face rising food costs. Greater transparency in price formation and tools capable of guaranteeing adequate compensation for producers are needed.

Starting again from the balance of tomorrow

In such a complex context, fairs like the one in Abbiategrasso remind us of the importance of closeness to the territory, of dialogue between institutions, professionals and local economies, and of the need to develop concrete strategies in support of agricultural enterprise.

Supporting agriculture means protecting food sovereignty, safeguarding the territory and guaranteeing the economic resilience of our communities. The "strength of the land" must be accompanied by clear answers, administrative simplification and regulatory and financial tools capable of giving certainty and a future to those who work in the fields every day.