Ensuring the supply of seeds is an essential step to protect the It
alian agri-food industry, as farmers are about to begin the sowing season aimed at the production of crops of vital importance for the Made in Italy industry. This call to action was launched by Assosementi, the association which represents Italian seed companies, in response to the restrictive measures that the Government could soon put in place to address the Coronavirus-Covid 19 emergency.
"We are living a crucial moment during this spring campaign - said Giuseppe Carli (in the photo), president of Assosementi - Currently, farmers are working in the field to sow crops that are fundamental for the Italian agri-food system, such as corn, the first crop in terms of harvest in our country, soybean, as the basis of animal nutrition and therefore highly strategic for zootechnics, and many vegetable species that are essential to the Mediterranean diet."
"It is clear that the lack of sowing is likely to cause serious consequences for the production of food, as seeds are the primary element in any food chain. This current situation could soon become critical, because if we don't sow now, we will have no agricultural produce in October, with the result of affecting not only Made in Italy products but also our supply of raw materials," added Carli.
"A desirable outcome for the seed sector would be that among the 
guidelines on the handling of goods laid down by the government, a derogation could also be applied to the transportation of seeds. We would like to stress that deliveries can be made in complete safety for the people involved, by applying the measures that are required in this scenario and without creating any kind of interference," continued Carli.
"In the past few days the Minister of Agriculture, Teresa Bellanova, launched an important invitation to everyone to support the agriculture sector in this critical phase. We fully endorse this message, recalling the decisive role that seeds have for the agri-food system," concluded Carli.