System synergies for made in Italy

On the occasion of the FederUnacoma assembly, the vice-president of Confindustria Marchesini, the deputy general secretary of FAO Martina, the President of ICE Zoppas and the analyst Pinosa discussed the strategies to face the new geography of agricultural production and agro-mechanical trade. The message of the minister Lollobrigida

A strong synergy between industry, agriculture and the trade and services system. This is the way to strengthen the agro-industrial Made in Italy and to face the new challenges of the market. The message was launched during the conference on the theme "Global and regional markets: challenges and opportunities for the agricultural machinery industry", held in the public session of the annual assembly of FederUnacoma. The agricultural machinery industry is one of the excellences of Italian manufacturing - with over 16 billion euros in turnover and 70% of production directed towards foreign markets - but it is affected by all the economic variables that condition the industry and by all those that impact agriculture. It must therefore face a complex scenario, characterised in recent years by the costs of raw materials, the costs of energy, and at the same time by the climate anomaly and the low level of agricultural incomes. Today the scenario appears even more complex, due to the new geopolitical structures and the new geography of trade. Developing strategies in step with the times is therefore the theme on which authoritative representatives of the industrial, agricultural and institutional worlds discussed.

The conference was opened by Maurizio Marchesini, Vice President of Confindustria for Labour and Industrial Relations. “FederUnacoma is a real point of reference not only for manufacturers of agricultural machinery, but also for those who see the combination of mechanisation and digital technologies as a driver of progress and development. In this context, the double transition and food security are the topics at the top of the agenda of companies in the sector. However - said Marchesini - it is necessary to keep in mind that transition policies that are imposing or have too short time horizons damage the production system. We hope that the new institutions will open a new season focused on the development of business activity, shelving choices inspired by ideological and anti-industrial attitudes.” In this context, the vice president of Confindustria again emphasised, safety, in all its forms, becomes a central element. “Now we must arrive as soon as possible at the correct definition of employer and trade union representation and identify together concrete proposals to present to political decision makers, because - added Marchesini - only those who know the workplaces and the critical issues intrinsic to these contexts can and have the responsibility to do so."

The issue relating to strategies for agricultural development was touched upon by FAO Deputy Director General Maurizio Martina (connecting from Rome), who recalled how the sector's crucial function - guaranteeing food security - has become a hot topic again after the crisis of COVID and the military conflicts that have recently erupted. Agricultural activity, which must preserve natural resources and ensure the healthiness of production, is also called upon to play an important social role, allowing families and rural communities to improve the quality of their work and life. Agricultural mechanics therefore constitutes an integral part of every process and every sector policy, since - it emerged from the meeting - it allows us to optimise the use of production factors and apply innovative cultivation techniques.

However, these policies cannot ignore the global geo-economic scenario and the numerous variables that characterise the current economic phase. A phase – said Gabriele Pinosa, president of Gospa Consulting – conditioned by what analysts define as “inflationary awakening”. “This phenomenon is determined by a plurality of factors, primarily related to the decline of hyperglobalisation, which is giving way to the regionalisation of markets with the consequent reconfiguration of supply chains. But the “inflationary awakening” – explained Pinosa – is also connected to extreme climatic and geopolitical events, to the energy transition, to the new economic model of China and India, and to the inflationary default possible only in conditions of financial repression.” In this context, in addition to the issue of the substantial US public debt, the unknowns about the future structures of Europe also weigh heavily. In particular, those relating to the new political balances that are being defined in Brussels, such as the upcoming elections in France and the German Government's strategies to counter internal economic difficulties.

“In short – said Pinosa – we are in the presence of an increasingly complex scenario, in which managing trade and developing a policy for made in Italy products will require ever greater commitment.”

From this perspective, Italian companies can count on the fruitful collaboration and strong support of the ICE Agency which, thanks to its branched structure, is capable of operating in a concrete way in the most diverse contexts. But the ICE structure - recalled the President of the Agency, Matteo Zoppas - is also organised to analyse scenarios, evaluate possible developments on the different markets, provide companies with tools appropriate to different needs. ICE and the Federation also collaborate synergistically to implement the numerous internationalisation initiatives promoted by FerderUnacoma, as well as the trade fairs organised by Italian manufacturers in Italy and abroad, first of all EIMA International, which - as was underlined during the assembly – have grown a lot in recent years thanks to the Agency's support. Among the activities carried out by ICE for Italian manufacturers, in addition to the incoming of qualified foreign operators in Italy (400 selected operators at EIMA alone), the many promotional events of Made in Italy on specific target markets around the world were also highlighted. Collective exhibitions, entrepreneurial missions and assistance through the 87 offices around the world.

“Particular attention is dedicated by the Italian Government and the ICE Agency to the Mattei Plan and the potential that opens up in Africa, a continent that is facing an important transition towards the modernisation of agricultural economies.

Together with FederUnacoma, in addition to the centres of competence and the structured and systemic training activities of agricultural entrepreneurs and trainers, it is essential to organise together with the rest of the country system (Simest, Sace, CDP and government institutions) to intercept all forms of investment that - said Zoppas - international organisations are planning for the infrastructural development of the African continent of which, with foresight, this Government has been able to become the leader through the Mattei Plan. Among the main priorities identified are the management of water resources and the development of cultivable surfaces, the effectiveness and efficiency of agricultural production through the technological excellence offered by agritech made in Italy, the undisputed leader in the sector at a global level.”

The development of the agricultural sector therefore cannot ignore the agro-mechanical industry and technological innovation, and requires a collective approach which, as underlined several times during the works, fully involves the business world and the political-institutional world. The Italian experience, with the strong synergies between the builders' association and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, can constitute a model of partnership between public and private.

“The mechanical sector represents a backbone of our economy; a sector that not only provides essential tools for modern agriculture, but which also plays a crucial role in technological innovation and which has contributed to making Italian agri-food a competitive and cutting-edge sector", said Minister Francesco Lollobrigida , present with a video message at the Federation assembly. Precisely for this reason - explained Lollobrigida - the ministry has moved since the first months of activity to ensure adequate support for innovation, making the European interventions envisaged by the CAP and the PNRR operational; establishing the new innovation fund with 250 million euros; increasing the resources reserved for the primary sector by the ISI-Inail tender from 35 to 90 million. But synergies on support for mechanisation are only one of the fields of collaboration between the Ministry and the Manufacturers' Association. Another is that relating to the organisation of major cultural and educational events. In this perspective, Minister Lollobrigida formalised the collaboration with FederUnacoma for the G7 Agriculture, which will be held from 21 to 29 September on the island of Ortigia, in Syracuse, and which has among the topics on the agenda also includes the contribution that the agro-mechanical industry can make to strengthening the primary economy.

“Mechanisation is very important because it contributes to the growth and innovation of agriculture even in many developing countries. For this reason - commented Lollobrigida - it also has a central role in the Mattei Plan to accompany African nations in a process of growth and development which does not require the simple sending of agricultural machinery, but above all the transfer of the wealth of knowledge that Italy has acquired in its long history."