The workshop promoted today at the Ara Pacis by Unaprol – Consorzio Olivicolo Italiano – on strategies to relaunch Italian EVO oil after a very negative year took place. According to Ismea’s January data, in 2018 production in Italy reached around 185,000 tonnes, one of the worst results of the last 25 years (comparable only to 2016), mainly due to last February’s frosts. Market share is declining, with Italy recording a worrying -4% over the last two months. The olive-growing sector has also been affected by a series of critical issues, from speculation to Xylella, from counterfeiting to the invasion of foreign oil, from climate change to fraud.
The situation is further aggravated by the growth of competitors thanks to substantial state investments, while the 2019 Stability Law provides no funds for olive growing in the National Solidarity Fund.
“[i]The situation is very serious; that is why for months we have been calling for government action through the National Olive-Growing Plan 2.0. To save Italian oil from foreign attacks, fraud and speculation, a supply chain pact is needed to protect the consumer[/i] – explained [b]David Granieri[/b], president of Unaprol – [i]The proposal we are launching today is for a new classification of extra virgin oil, lowering the acidity level from 0.8 to 0.5%, to increase quality and combat more effectively the fraud and cheating that concentrates at the borderline. The panel test works well; it’s the classification that is wrong[/i]”.
“[i]The request for a new classification of olive oils can be examined within the procedures set out in the international agreement on olive oil and table olives[/i] – stated [b]Abdellatif Ghedira[/b], executive director of the IOC – [i]IOC standards are a constantly evolving tool, precisely to respond to market needs, transparency and consumer protection. However, a proposal needs to be officially submitted to the Council of Members so that the executive secretariat can process the matter and start the procedures for discussing the topic[/i]”.
Coldiretti president [b]Ettore Prandini[/b] analysed the problem of counterfeiting: “[i]Faced with the growing risk of fraud at national level, we need to tighten the still-loose mesh of legislation by reforming agri-food offences, increase controls on processing and imports, overcoming state secrecy on the destination of imports, and work towards greater transparency in origin labelling[/i]”. Prandini stressed “[i]the important opening of talks at the Ministry of Justice to combat agri-food crimes that heavily affect national production, which must also be defended by promoting the panel test[/i]”.
The meeting was also attended by [b]Filippo Gallinella[/b], president of the Chamber’s Agriculture Committee, who stressed the importance of “[i]working as a system, educating consumption and focusing on sustainability[/i]”, while [b]Gianpaolo Vallardi[/b], president of the Senate’s Standing Agriculture Committee, dwelt on the importance of quality in protecting health and on the need to increase quantities “[i]in order to try to achieve self-sufficiency[/i]”.
Also central to the discussion was the agreement signed in June by Coldiretti, Unaprol, Federolio and FAI, the largest [b]supply chain contract[/b] ever for Made in Italy oil. “[i]We must manage to link perceived value with the product, overcoming the up-and-down trend of raw materials. This is how economic stability can be created, value built, and the consumer educated towards quality[/i]” – stated [b]Francesco Tabano[/b], president of Federolio. “[i]The task of Modern Distribution is to offer, over time, quality products, with supply-chain security, at the best possible price[/i] – explained [b]Giorgio Santambrogio[/b], CEO of VéGé and President of ADM – [i]To guarantee this, a supply chain pact is essential, and what is being done for Italian oil is an admirable example[/i]”. “[i]Adusbef expressed great satisfaction with the supply chain contract signed by Unaprol, Coldiretti, Federolio and FAI, clearly aimed at guaranteeing and protecting the spread and marketing of Italian oil, with particular attention to promoting environmental sustainability and ensuring correct information for the end consumer[/i]”. – concluded [b]Antonio Tanza[/b], president of Adusbef.
