Among the points raised by the Minister also access to the American market for apples and pears
“For the made in Italy agri-food sector, the United States is an important commercial partner: 10% of our exports and 7,5% of imports are the result of exchange relations between Italy and the USA. We cannot and must not take the risk of questioning these relationships. Reversing this positive trend would also mean damaging the agri-food production system of our countries. A dynamic that we must aim to strengthen by also opening up to collaboration with the achievement of concrete objectives in specific sectors ".
So Minister Teresa Bellanova in a passage of the bilateral meeting this morning at the Mipaaf with the US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.
"I think in the first place," continued Minister Bellanova, "about collaboration in research and innovation, with particular regard to innovative techniques of plant genomics. We are also working at European level to make a clear distinction between these techniques and transgenic genetic modifications. We are investing important resources for the study and development of studies to protect our identity productions from vines to olives, from tomatoes to different fruit trees. Our respective research bodies, Crea and Arc _ American Research Council, could investigate the matter. A dialogue that I would like to encourage ”.
Furthermore, among the topics covered in the bilateral, also access to the American market for some products of our fruit and vegetables such as apples and pears.
"For years," said Minister Bellanova, "Italy has been trying to agree with the American phytosanitary authorities how to allow the export of apples and pears to your market. The harmonization of rules and standards is a point on which Europe and the United States can work, for a meeting ground ".
On both issues, the US Secretary has expressed attention and interest, and said he wanted to address issues related to the export of apples and pears.