Italian farmers protested against agricultural policy

01/27/2024 6:59 pm (current 01/27/2024 6:59 pm)

Farmer protests against European agricultural policy broke out in several Italian cities on Saturday. Farmers blocked access to the “Autostrada del Sole” (A1), not far from places north of Rome, with 100 tractors for hours, the Aspi road company reported. Several traffic police patrols were at the scene. The protest generated significant problems with road traffic on the busy north-south axis.

There were also protests by farmers in the port city of Pescara, in the center of the Italian Adriatic. Farmers moved their tractors along the Riviera, passing through the municipalities of Pescara and Montesilvano. Several citizens applauded the protesters. The protest lasted about two hours and caused problems with car traffic. There were also demonstrations by farmers in Sicily, as reported in the Italian media.

The protest, which has been going on for days in Italy, is directed against the decisions of the government and Brussels, which, according to farmers, are putting Italian agriculture at a disadvantage, and against the increase in the prices of raw materials. Farmers have also protested against EU-approved laboratory meat and insect meal. They do not rule out additional and wider protests from as far north as Rome.

“No farmers, no food, no future” was written on one of the tractors. Protesters called on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government to better defend the interests of Italian farmers in Brussels. As in Germany, topics include the price of agricultural diesel, energy costs in general and the income situation of farmers.