Italian wheat farmers protest import surge and price collapse

Hundreds of Italian wheat growers gathered at the Port of Bari and the Port of Ravenna in flash‑mob protests organized by the Confederation of Italian Farmers (CIA). They denounced a sharp fall in domestic wheat prices and a 40 % rise in extra‑EU imports, saying the influx drives down prices and harms producers. CIA vice‑president Gennaro Sicolo urged that “imports of durum wheat be halted for six months, up to December 2026, because current stocks are sufficient,” and called for permanent, coordinated inspections of all grain shipments at Italian ports.

At Ravenna, CIA Romagna president Lorenzo Falcioni warned that production costs now exceed the sale price, making it “more convenient to leave land fallow than to sell at a loss.” He said the trend could force farmers to abandon wheat cultivation, endangering Italy’s culinary heritage and regional designations. The protestors also demanded stricter controls on imported grain to ensure it meets the same sanitary and quality standards as domestic wheat.