Lactalis hosts summit on the economic value of Italian DOP products

Lactalis Italia hosted a summit in Milan titled ‘Geographical Indications and Beyond: The DOP Economy and the Value of Italian Production in Markets’ to discuss the strategic role of certified products in global competitiveness. The event brought together institutions, businesses, and academia to address challenges such as rising production costs and shifting consumer behaviors.

During the meeting, Mauro Rosati, director of Fondazione Qualivita, presented his book ‘The Philosophy of the DOP Economy’. He highlighted that the DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) system is a vital economic driver, supporting approximately 200,000 companies and 900,000 jobs, with a production value of nearly 22 billion euros. Rosati noted that geographical indications have transformed food from a purely nutritional commodity into a symbolic cultural asset.

Lactalis announced plans to invest over 40 million euros in Italy to further promote local excellence. The discussion also addressed the issue of ‘Italian sounding’—the imitation of Italian products—which continues to impact the economic value of authentic regional goods.