Sustainable crop defense and food safety.

Maria Lodovica Gullino:

Circular Health is the evolution of the concept of One Health or Global Health which had already been developed a lot over the past few years. Europe is far behind on this issue, especially Italy. In Europe, the only country that has truly fully developed this concept is Holland with the One Health concept. What were they trying to do? An attempt was made to begin to combine human health and animal health. Plants have always been somewhat the poor relatives of this system just as plant pathologists are the poor relatives compared to veterinarians and doctors. Covid certainly gave a very strong push because it brought to light many critical issues in the system, it brought to light the importance of plants, the importance of agriculture, which continued to function while the world stopped and allowed us to put a lot of more in relation to how the health of those who consume the products depends on the health of plants and the environment: animals, feed and man. The very strong push for circular health comes from an Italian researcher who works in Florida and who runs a center of excellence on circular health. What helps a lot? A strong push is given by artificial intelligence, because artificial intelligence allows us to examine, put together much more data and analyze it critically. I believe that in the next few years we will see the results of this approach which, however, must also make researchers overcome the barriers because very often there were barriers placed. The European Commission tried to put up tenders that put together the diagnostic techniques valid in veterinary medicine, in plant pathology and then the calls came out separately because each of us loves to stay in the Comfort Zone where we feel comfortable. We need to overcome barriers not only by pathogens, but also by us researchers.

Davide Spadaro:

Yes, we can say that the checks are made and are carried out on a sample basis.
A question that could arise: but why don’t you check all the production? This is mainly a problem that concerns the costs of the analyzes because the analysis of a sample of a crop protection product costs from 150 to 200 euros, a cost that cannot then be passed on to the final product. Then it concerns the timing, because an analysis cost takes two or three days. So it is not possible to verify everything we consume. It is clear, however, that the sample control carried out by authorities in charge such as the Ministry of Health in the Italian case, carried out by food distribution chains and also on a voluntary basis by producers, guarantees at certain points in the supply chain to verify whether good practices are actually being followed. both as regards the treatments carried out in the field, and then during food processing. As we have said, Italy is among the most virtuous countries, for this we must first of all thank the first link in the supply chain (farmers) because this means that in Italy the regulations that exist, established and common in most, are followed more closely. of European countries. We have accredited analysis laboratories, methods of analysis that are validated, maximum limits established at European Union level and then many directives. We have the National Action Plan, we have several regulations both on a national and regional European basis that lead to a reduction in the use of agropharmaceuticals. The last thing I can say is that outside the European Union we are not so protected because there are more pesticides allowed, molecules that we have not used for years, the maximum limits are sometimes not there or are less restrictive, there are fewer controls and less environmental impact defense strategies are implemented.

Maria Lodovica Gullino:

Quality and quantity are not conflicting concepts. We must say very strongly, as Spadaro has clearly highlighted that our Italian productions are of absolute quality and we must be proud of it while we tend to always hurt ourselves as Italians. We are better than the French, we are better than the Germans, let’s face it for once. With equal conviction we must say that it is necessary to produce even more, to increase production. It is absolutely not true what some are saying: that the productions are sufficient: it is not true we must increase. The task of research is precisely to help farmers produce more, increase yields in a sustainable way, and this must be done to feed everyone. We have highlighted those particular niche sectors before, but we must have safe and quality agriculture on a large scale and this is feasible, it is feasible by investing heavily in research. Certainly our country is a country that defends itself well in this area because we have always had integrated production techniques, a great deal of control, a great deal of technical assistance. Rather, our Ministry of Agriculture, rather than committing itself so much to supporting marginal forms of agriculture, should put in place a good system of technical assistance, technical assistance and technicians who go into the field, not technicians who sit at the desk behind a computer working at practical, good field technicians to help farmers use innovative methods.

Davide Spadaro:

Yes, we must pay particular attention to the cereals, dried fruit and spices we consume. These are the three products of greatest risk. In this case, as written on the label, keep them in cool and dry places because high temperatures and humidity are the two factors that can favor the development of molds. As for fresh fruit, if we observe small rot, it is possible to eliminate the affected part and the rest of the fruit can still be consumed. Then I have to reiterate this last concept once again: prefer European products over non-European ones, Italian products also compared to other European countries and if we want branded products or products that in any case have the private label of the distribution chains because the distribution chains carry out many more controls. Clearly, sub-brand products are also less controlled to reduce costs.