Get ready for an exciting event happening on Sunday, March 16th at the Auditorium of the University of Linguistic Mediation in Rome, Via Casilina. A major conference titled “Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Synergies and Social Justice” will be taking place. Organized by AgerNova – Services for Agroecology, based in Massa Martana, Perugia. It’s like a State General Assembly for a “New Rural Humanism.”
The event kicks off at 10 am and will feature discussions divided into five sessions, continuing into the late afternoon. Professor Giuseppe Altieri (pictured), who is also one of the organizers, will summarize the essence and spirit of the interventions to draw conclusions.
We asked Professor Giuseppe Altieri to give our readers at Roma Daily News a preview of the event: “First and foremost, I would like to thank all twenty experts who have agreed to provide insights on the current state of agriculture. We have esteemed speakers such as Professor Pietro Perrino, CNR Geneticist, former guardian of the Germplasm Bank in Bari (remote presentation); Professor Salvatore Ceccarelli, former Professor of Agricultural Genetics at the University of Perugia (remote presentation from India); and Miguel A. Altieri, Agroecologist – Emeritus Professor of Agroecology at the University of Berkeley, California.”
“After 80 years of using and abusing chemicals in agriculture, we say enough. Enough…to the bio-accumulation of synthetic pesticide residues in food chains and enough to the consequent increase in chronic-degenerative diseases…”
Noble and commendable preaching and programs indeed, but Professor, how do you plan to achieve them?
“How do we plan to achieve them? By becoming aware of the dramatic economic, environmental, and social crisis in agriculture and by enforcing the immediate application of the Agroecological paradigm in rural, regional, and national development.”
And what means do you possess or will you use to accomplish such important, if not ambitious, programs?
“First and foremost, we will demand from Institutions and Politics, in accordance with Articles 9 and 41 of the Italian Constitution, to guarantee local food sovereignty and protect the income of farmers. This includes a proper implementation of European Policy with legitimate clauses for national safeguard and income support policies, as well as the recovery of abandoned territories. We will combat speculation and unfair international competition with common production, health, and environmental regulations. Implementing tariffs for those who do not comply.”
Professor, don’t you feel like you’re up against the wall of major distribution?
“Exactly, after nearly a century with a courageous and substantial support policy that favors small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises; especially for the recovery of abandoned territories. By eliminating speculation and unfair international competition with common production, health, and environmental regulations. Implementing tariffs for those who do not comply. I can reveal that all speakers agree on the need to protect the ancient traditional varieties of Italian and Mediterranean gastronomy, representing the Precedent Right.”
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
Welcome greetings: Adriana Bisirri – Opening speech: Federico Fazzuoli – Speakers: Giuseppe Altieri; Giovanni Bazzocchi; Massimiliano Bianco; Guido Bissanti; Giovanni Burgio; Salvatore Ceccarelli; Margherita Ciervo; Riccardo Cornale; Federico Infascelli; Enrico Lucconi; Giuseppe Mele; Michele Monetta; Luigi Montano; Lorenzo Negri; Pietro Perrino; Adamo Rombolà; Giovanna Sorbelli – Moderators Federico Fazzuoli, Armando Manocchia – Greeting from Miguel A. Altieri (Professor of Agroecology, University of Berkeley, California) – Conclusions by Cesare Mirabelli (emeritus president of the Constitutional Court) – Scientific coordinator Giuseppe Altieri
