Among the sectors that have most suffered the consequences of the closures imposed to tackle the pandemic by Covid-19 there is certainly the brewing sector, gathered today by videoconference by the Undersecretary for Agricultural Policies, Giuseppe L'Abbate, to plan the future actions of the sector. .
The supply chain table saw the various protagonists confront each other on the possible uses of part of the funds made available by the latest Budget Law, equal to 10 million euros.
“In recent years we have seen countless initiatives that have led to the birth of hundreds of artisanal microbreweries. This must be the driving force for the creation of a real Italian brewing chain, which can count on agricultural production of hops and national malt - declares the Undersecretary for Agricultural Policies, Giuseppe L'Abbate. It will therefore be crucial to know how to properly target these available funds to plan future developments. Beyond the delicate political moment, it is important to start discussions with the supply chain to understand how to best allocate resources in order to guarantee growth and increase in added value in the near future - continues L'Abbate - focusing on interventions complementary to those already planned. from the Rural Development Plans, where some measures can already finance the needs indicated by the table ”.
Among the proposals that emerged, first of all, support for the production of barley and hops, also through supply chain contracts linked to the enhancement of the transformation and promotion of the product. “This in such a way that the supply chain is structured and then has the strength to grow independently - explains Undersecretary Giuseppe L'Abbate. The Ministry has already asked Agea for updated data, so as to be able to evaluate the hectares affected by these productions ”.
To this is added the request to finance research in different directions: for the identification of effective plant protection products with a low impact on the environment, more performing plant varieties and solutions for improving the mechanization of the production process. Therefore, promotion, technical assistance and training, both for farmers and for technicians who, in turn, will support the producers, giving concrete implementation in companies of the results of scientific research.
Finally, the first draft with which the economic-statistical observatory, set up within the supply chain table, photographs the Italian scenario on hops is expected shortly.