Italy agricultural leaders promote regional supply chain development

In Modena, Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida was awarded the ‘Le Chiavi dell’Acetaia d’Italia’ 2026 prize by Le Terre del Balsamico and the Consorzio Tutela Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena. During the ceremony, Lollobrigida also designated the Consorzio ‘Terre del Balsamico’ as a UNESCO heritage ambassador for Italian cuisine. The Minister emphasized the need to protect balsamic vinegar from imitations and ensure consumer transparency to safeguard the economic and cultural value of the territory.

In a separate regional development initiative, Unionbirrai proposed the creation of a structured supply chain in Puglia. The goal is to integrate agriculture, research, and processing to support artisanal breweries. Donato Di Palma, the regional representative for Unionbirrai Puglia, highlighted the importance of using local raw materials like barley, wheat, and hops to create a high-quality, traceable production system.

Additionally, the BioTech2Agri project held a conference in Capriva del Friuli to discuss the development of sustainable and scientifically grounded agri-food supply chains. Regional Councilor Stefano Zannier stressed the importance of creating economic models that remain viable beyond initial public funding through innovation and bioeconomy integration.