The annual assembly of the Italian Federation of Organic and Biodynamic Agriculture took place yesterday, June 24, in Bologna. It mainly focused on the political role the association should play both in Italy and internationally.

During his opening speech, Federbio chairman Paolo Carnemolla (pictured) explained the need to get formal recognition of the role of the Federation as a reference inter-professional body for the whole industry. To reach this, Carnemolla explained, a series of steps and relations are needed, that are being made.

Moreover, he analyzed the situation of organic farming in Italy and abroad and he noted that the organic industry in switching from being considered an "antagonist niche" to an "alternative to the whole crisis-affected agricultural and food economy."

Carnemolla also pointed out one of the current dangers in the market, caused by the need to support conventional agriculture economically and politically in times of crisis: that is to mistake the local product and the guarantee of origin for the best product, the certified one, which ensures quality.

But origin guarantee is not a quality guarantee by itself. Local products are other than organic products. Italian agriculture must therefore set clearer objectives, claiming a leadership role in the Mediterranean which requires trade and logistics skills to be implemented.

Alongside this sharp note about the international level, Carnemolla also referred to initiatives involving Brazil and China that let me puzzled, as Brazil and China are major agricultural systems that can only be alternative and antagonistic to a Euro-Mediterranean system that must be strengthened as soon as possible and that can develop organic farming as one of its flagships. (a.f.)