Italian agriculture faces olive oil and fishing crises

The Italian olive oil and mollusk farming sectors are facing significant economic crises. During a meeting of the Agricultural Policy Commission in Puglia, regional and national officials discussed emergency measures to address these issues.

For the olive oil sector, which has seen production prices drop from over 9 euros/kg to 4 euros/kg in one year, the government is preparing aid. This includes a 40 million euro allocation for mills via Ismea agricultural promissory notes and a campaign of rigorous controls to prevent fraud and illegal imports. While some groups, such as Orgoglio Olivicolo, view recent government openings as a positive first step, others have criticized the measures as insufficient ‘palliatives’ that fail to address the root causes of the price collapse and potential job losses.

In the fishing sector, specifically mollusk and mussel farming, rising water temperatures have caused significant mortality rates. The Commission is calling for extraordinary government support through solidarity funds and FEAMPA resources, alongside increased research into climate-resilient farming methods.