Mario Serpillo confirmed UCI president at the XII National Congress

Among those in attendance was Barbara Nappini, president of Slow Food Italia

ROME – The XII National Congress of the Italian Farmers' Union (Uci) took place at the Roma Eventi Congress Centre, a fundamental event which saw the participation of important figures from the agricultural, environmental and institutional sectors.

The Congress took place at a decisive moment, on the eve of the European elections which see agriculture at the center of the political debate, the development of which must be an important priority for the future Parliament.

The Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy underline, in fact, the need to involve farmers more in the ecological transition.

President Mario Serpillo, unanimously confirmed as head of the UCI, declared:“We want to restore centrality to the agricultural sector, recognizing that it is not an economic activity like the others.Doing agriculture means staying in the area, dealing with the lack of services, road and digital connections, and institutional safeguards.Our goal is to give dignity to work and to the 'places' of agriculture, promoting concrete projects guided by a shared vision".

Among those who spoke, Barbara Nappini, president of Slow Food Italia, underlined:“Today the logic that guides the food system (production, distribution and consumption) can only be 'organic':that is, centered on life.

This is not a sacrifice, but the opportunity to make important choices that tend towards the horizon of harmonious progress that instead of separating holds together:technical data and traditional knowledge, global vision and valorization of territorial diversity, lucid analysis and affective intelligence, scientific research and beauty.

Putting the common good back at the centre, instead of private and specific interests, striving with determination towards the objective of peace, for life in all its forms:under this auspice we are starting a collaboration with UCI which will see us work together on a cultural, widespread and inclusive path".

“European agriculture, and Italian agriculture in particular - states President Mario Serpillo - face the challenge of environmental and social sustainability.The shortage of young farmers, especially under the age of 35, is a critical problem that risks compromising the competitiveness of the sector.Future policies will need to facilitate access to land and credit, improve rural infrastructure and support innovation.The rural and marginal areas of the country, often considered peripheral - he continues - will have to be at the center of a new national project and become highly attractive for youth entrepreneurship and for quality tourism, through which to enhance the food and wine excellences and the heritage culture of those territories".

Topics around which, given that there is full agreement with the president of Slow Food Italia, Barbara Nappini, the UCI intends to develop a fruitful collaboration and carry forward, in Italy and Europe, the common commitment of the two associations to safeguard agriculture , the territory and environmental sustainability.

During the XII Congress, therefore, a clear message was launched:the ecological transition of agriculture cannot take place without the active involvement of farmers.
Only modern and sustainable agriculture can respond to current and future challenges, guaranteeing quality and competitiveness, and at the same time enhancing the territorial and cultural heritage of our country.