{"id":1561,"date":"2024-09-03T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eccellenzedimpresa.it\/magazine\/a-new-agriculture-for-a-fairer-and-more-sustainable-world\/"},"modified":"2024-09-03T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T08:00:00","slug":"a-new-agriculture-for-a-fairer-and-more-sustainable-world","status":"publish","type":"cp_magazine","link":"https:\/\/eccellenzedimpresa.it\/cn\/magazine\/a-new-agriculture-for-a-fairer-and-more-sustainable-world\/","title":{"rendered":"A new agriculture for a fairer and more sustainable world\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Italy, with its unique characteristics, can be a model for many countries<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sustainably feeding 9 billion people is the main challenge for the survival of mankind, which can only be achieved if all countries unite to pursue a common goal before it is too late. While the world population grows every day \u2014 the threshold of 8 billion people on Earth was surpassed at the end of 2022, and that of 9 billion, according to the UN and the most accredited statistical models, will be reached in 2037, eventually reaching 9.7 billion in 2050 \u2014 Earth Overshoot Day (the day on which humanity consumes all the resources produced by the planet in an entire year) moves further away from 31 December every year; this year, it falls on 1 August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In this ever-changing framework, each state has a role to play as part of a grand worldwide strategy needed to accelerate agricultural production, make it more efficient, and align it with the demands of the population. While it is true that we are still far from eradicating poverty (particularly in Africa), as envisioned in the UN’s Agenda 2030, significant progress has been made in recent years. People living in extreme poverty now make up 9.3% of the Earth’s population, whereas in 1990, they accounted for 38% (World Bank figures). Moreover, those who see their incomes rise aspire to live as people do in Western countries, which are often taken as a reference for lifestyles and nutrition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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However, it is clear that the objective cannot be pursued with traditional agricultural and breeding models, for several reasons. The first is that agriculture is a major contributor to global warming, emitting more greenhouse gases than cars, trucks, trains, and planes combined, and releasing nitrogen oxide from fertilizers. Livestock farming is also a significant contributor, considering methane emissions and water usage (as well as pollution of the blue gold). Furthermore, extensive farming is one of the biggest contributors to the loss of biodiversity, not to mention the nitrogen oxide emissions generated by cutting down rainforests to make room for livestock farms and cultivated fields \u2014 a practice that must be stopped immediately, as the damage caused far outweighs the benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is needed, on the contrary, is to increase the yield of existing farms. While fields in the United States, Canada, and Australia are extremely productive, in Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, there is still a long way to go. It is here that massive action can be taken to revolutionize global agriculture and ensure that the 9 billion people who will live on Earth in a few years’ time can feed themselves in a healthy and sustainable manner. This is a role that Italy, too, can play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The key is to enable everyone to eat as they do in Western countries, accommodating the growing demand for protein on the world’s tables. However, this cannot be achieved by increasing meat consumption for the reasons outlined above: expanding the area and number of farms would be entirely unsustainable. The only viable alternative is to develop a supply of plant-based proteins, making extensive use of those derived from wheat, soy, carob, peas, and legumes in general. These proteins have a lower fat content, a low glycemic index, and provide a greater sense of satiety than animal proteins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This challenge combines agriculture and applied research but must also consider economic sustainability: it is not feasible to sell plant-based protein products at prices equal to or higher than those of premium cuts of meat from livestock farms. The market must produce affordable \u201cfake chickens,\u201d because, while 90% of the world’s population now lives above the extreme poverty line, widespread poverty persists (even in the West), with millions struggling to make ends meet and unable to afford expensive alternatives to meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Global agriculture must unify, creating an interrelated system among nations, integrated within an international supply chain that leverages the unique characteristics of each country. This should be part of an overarching, coordinated project that can no longer be postponed. Intensive crops, efficient breeding, and cereal production must all be framed within this inescapable context for every government and regulator, making isolationist approaches impractical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The growing demand for higher nutritional value across increasing segments of the population provides opportunities for countries capable of producing distinctive, high-quality products. This involves specializing crops to enhance the unique attributes of each area in terms of biodiversity and agricultural suitability, harnessing technology in the fields, and increasing the share of agriculture devoted to human consumption (currently 55%, with the rest allocated to animal feed and biofuels). Reducing waste is also critical, given that approximately 50% of the food produced globally is wasted before reaching consumers’ tables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This is where Italy\u2019s role becomes strategic. The country has unique strengths, such as the Italian tomato, which arrived in Europe in the 1500s and boasts unparalleled flavor and aroma, or soft wheat flour, known for being one of the least tenacious in the world, and PDO Genoese basil. These products must be promoted under a recognizable brand in foreign markets, leveraging Italy\u2019s established reputation, robust sales networks, promotional strategies, and efficient logistics. This effort should target growing markets increasingly seeking \u201cpremium\u201d products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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According to recent McKinsey research, consumer behavior is changing. Young people aged 18 to 24, particularly in emerging or established countries like India and Saudi Arabia, along with their parents, pensioners, and much of the middle class, are willing to spend more on quality, recognizable products in certain categories. Among these, the agri-food sector stands out\u2014a field where Italy can lead, contributing to the planet\u2019s well-being from multiple perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This path also includes transitioning the country\u2019s agricultural production to organic, a step that\u2014given the lower profitability of Italian fields compared to those in North America\u2014would be relatively cost-effective. If Italy adopts this recognizable characteristic worldwide, its products could command global competition, offering significant competitive advantages. However, this requires government support for the conversion process, in collaboration with farmers and their representative associations, and advocacy in Europe. In the writer\u2019s humble opinion, while Europe is attuned to the needs of farmers in Northern Europe, it could better address the challenges facing Italy\u2019s agricultural sector.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eccellenzedimpresa.it\/cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cp_magazine\/1561"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eccellenzedimpresa.it\/cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cp_magazine"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eccellenzedimpresa.it\/cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/cp_magazine"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eccellenzedimpresa.it\/cn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}