Italian grain farmers stage port protests over low wheat prices

On 12 June 2026, thousands of wheat producers gathered in southern Italy, staging flash‑mob protests at the Varco della Vittoria gate of the port of Bari and simultaneously at the port of Ravenna. Organized by the Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori (CIA), the demonstrations aimed to draw attention to the collapse of the domestic cereal sector.

Protesters highlighted that a quintale of wheat now sells for the same price as in 1970 while production costs have risen, blaming cheap foreign imports that undercut farmer incomes. CIA officials, including national vice‑president Gennaro Sicolo and regional president Lorenzo Catellani, demanded stricter EU‑aligned controls on all grain entering Italian ports, enforcement of the law against unfair trading practices, a ban on pricing below production costs, and mandatory “Made in Italy” labeling for pasta made with Italian wheat. Sicolo said, “Chiamiamo a raccolta non solo i produttori e le istituzioni, ma anche i consumatori.” Catellani added, “Non siamo andati all'arrembaggio delle navi‑granaio provenienti dall'estero.”

The association also presented a six‑point plan that includes full application of the anti‑unfair‑practice law, new inter‑professional price negotiations based on production costs, rigorous port inspections by the navy, finance guard and health authorities, and a national strategy to revive the cereal sector.