Sardinia is on the front lines at the Brenner Pass to stop the invasion of fake Made in Italy products in the agri-food sector. This morning, at the border between Italy and Austria, hundreds of Sardinians were among the ten thousand Coldiretti protesters. who have raised their voices "to say no to the unbridled importation of untraceable and uncertified products, but above all, products masquerading as Italian without actually being so." The choice of the Brenner Pass is no coincidence: it is the gateway to Italy for tons of agri-food and agricultural products, and has become a symbolic place for defending work in the fields and transparency along the entire agri-food supply chain.
A 20 billion hole
During the inspections carried out on vehicles and throughout the busy morning at the Coldiretti sit-in, it was also forcefully revealed that farmers could recover at least €20 billion if the latest substantial change to the current customs code were amended. This measure, at this stage, could help mitigate the impact of rising production costs and counteract rising consumer prices. Due to the war in Iran, energy, diesel, and fertilizer prices have skyrocketed, and supplies are also complicated, jeopardizing planting and food production and paving the way for an increase in the presence of ultra-processed foods.
The voice of Sardinia
"We couldn't miss this event," emphasizes Battista Cualbu, president of Coldiretti Sardinia, "because a crucial issue is being played out here, also for our island. Sardinia produces excellent agri-food products that represent its economy, identity, and social protection, but all this value risks being undermined by a system that doesn't adequately protect true Italian products. When there's a lack of clarity about the origin of raw materials, our farmers, our breeders, and our consumers are penalized. That's why we're here: to protect the income of Sardinian and Italian agricultural businesses and to ensure market transparency."
Luca Saba, director of Coldiretti Sardinia, agrees, emphasizing : "The battle for transparency and origin is central to the future of Sardinian agriculture. Our companies face high production costs, partly due to their insularity, and cannot be further penalized by rules that allow foreign products to be perceived as Italian. Defending Made in Italy means protecting the value of Sardinian products, ensuring fairness along the supply chain, and safeguarding the economic and social future of Sardinia's rural areas."
