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The publication by Ismea (Institute of Services for the Agricultural Food Market) and the Qualivita Foundation of the new monitoring and economic analysis report of the PDO, PGI and TSG production sector has just been published.
In 2023, quality agrifood products certified as PDO (Protected Denomination of Origin), PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) and TSG (Traditional Specialities Guaranteed) reached a production value of over 20 billion euros, with a slight increase compared to the previous year, substantially maintaining the previous year’s levels. These are the figures that emerged in the XXII Ismea-Qualivita Report presented in Rome.
In detail, the food sector grew by 3.5%, exceeding 9 billion Euro for the first time.
On the other hand, there was a slight drop for the wine sector in terms of both quantity (-0.7%) and value (-2.3%).
The Italian PDO economy is made up of 317 Protection Consortia, all authorised by the Ministry of Agriculture. These consortia coordinate the activities of more than 194,000 enterprises in the food and wine sectors, with an employment level of almost 850,000 workers. This system, which represents a true sign of distinction for Made in Italy in the agro-food sector, is also recognised and appreciated on international markets: in 2023 exports confirmed a value of 11.6 billion euros, with a positive trend within the European Union (+5.3%), a trend that largely offsets the -4.6% recorded in non-EU countries.
Among the non-EU markets, the United States remains the main customer, recording more than 20% of Italian PDO and PGI exports.
Going into more detail, the food sector generated a value of Euro 4.67 billion, with significant growth for cheese, pasta and olive oil.
Even in the large-scale distribution, PDO and PGI products registered a significant increase of more than 7%, an increase in line with the overall growth of the food sector, which is close to 9%.
It should be noted that the PDO economy has grown in almost all Italian regions, particularly in the South and the Islands, with record growth in Abruzzo and Sardinia. In the centre, on the other hand, the only region showing growth was Lazio, while the one with the greatest decline was Tuscany.
As far as wine is concerned, as mentioned, there has been a drop in the quantity exported, with almost a 3% drop, a drop that however does not significantly affect the growth recorded over the last ten years, years in which the value of our wine sector increased by 66%.
And it was precisely on wine that the Minister of MASAF (Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry) Francesco Lollobrigida intervened, emphasising that the substantial stability of the sector is ‘already a miracle compared to the constant aggression that exists in prejudicial terms’ . A direct reference to the ill-considered attacks that call into question the role of wine in the wine and food and cultural panorama. ‘There is nothing wrong with saying that there is alcohol abuse,’ the minister clarified, reiterating how it is right and necessary to “reduce alcohol consumption”, but without depriving ourselves of the pleasure and taste of quality products such as Italian ones.
In conclusion, he added, ‘I believe that things should be viewed with a healthy optimism with respect to what is a very relevant picture for us, that of having obtained the guarantee of a Europe that is paying different attention to the quality of products linked to the territory and the function of the supply chains that are connected and that also mean quality and protection of the environment. A victory for those who, like Italy, make typicality and quality a distinctive sign.
A distinctive sign that has always been appreciated in the world, which finally seems to be recognised and appreciated even in the ‘rooms of power’ of a European Union that is increasingly attentive and aware that the Italian agrifood line is synonymous with safety and quality.
And if indeed, as it seems, the policies implemented by MASAF prove to be successful in the long term, our country will have nothing but benefits.