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In expectation of a societal shift: the common agricultural policy (CAP) in the tension of environmental challenges, agricultural diversity and food for all

From October 2nd to 4th 2020 an international seminar took place in Marsala/Italy on the subject of "In expectation of a societal shift: the common agricultural policy (CAP) in the tension of environmental challenges, agricultural diversity and food for all", which was organized by FEDER.AGRI. (Federazione Nazionale per lo Sviluppo dell'Agricoltura), with the support of EZA and the European Union. The event was attended by 60 representatives of workers' organizations from Croatia, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, Poland and Italy.

The pandemic, sustainable development, agriculture, environmental protection and employment with a view to new forms of work were the topics of the debate. The seminar provided an opportunity for discussion and study, and a close connection between the coronavirus pandemic, protection of the ecosystem and health became clear.

The participants agreed that priorities should be pursued jointly in order to avoid having to face health, economic and ecological emergencies as far as possible: Italy and all of Europe must make clear, unambiguous and responsible decisions.

The spread of the pandemic and the resulting isolation of individual European countries meant a severe setback for many social and economic development targets To name just one, the FAO recently released a report warning that 27 countries will face an unprecedented food crisis due to the socio-economic consequences of Covid-19. Not only that: the health crisis has not only led to difficulties in business and administration, but also to the fact that national governments are once again playing a central role in supporting the economy and individual companies. In this context, the sustainable agri-food industry is one of the most affected sectors. Its recovery will be central to reshaping the Italian and European economies and work.

The participants also agreed that it is necessary to devise an even more environmentally friendly and competitive new scenario in the field of agriculture, in which the aspects of ecology and sustainability are integrated.

In this context, Domenico Mogavero, Bishop of Mazara del Vallo, emphasized the importance of a sustainable economy for the preservation of job creation.

Feder.Agri. Secretary General Alfonso Luzzi outlined the environmental, economic and labour emergency caused by the pandemic, then went on to address the social and global priority of the moral issue, which is the basis of the action and thought of all in the ecosystem Action must be taken. He referred to the coincidence of the seminar with the publication of the papal encyclical “Fratelli tutti”: “An encyclical addressed to everyone. We live in a time marked by war, poverty, migration, climate change, economic crisis and now also a catastrophic and universal pandemic: recognising ourselves as brothers and sisters is one way of reaffirming the dignity of every human being. And it is also a way of reminding ourselves that we can never get out of the present troubles alone, one against the other, north against south, rich against poor. The governments of the world should primarily base their decisions on this moral value”, said Alfonso Luzzi.

The President of MCL of Trapani, Ubaldo Augugliaro, and the Co-President of EZA, Piergiorgio Sciacqua, joined the greetings. Relevant presentations were given by, among others

- Carmen Quintanilla, former Spanish MP and President of the Spanish Association of Families and Women in Rural Areas AFAMMER, on the challenges in Spanish agriculture and the role of women in this context

- Felice Crescente, Director of the Trapani Agricultural Inspectorate, on job growth in the agricultural sector in the Province of Trapani: the challenges of modernisation and environmental sustainability

- Angelo Raffaele Margiotta, General Secretary of Confsal (Confederazione generale dei sindacati autonomi dei lavoratori) on economic recovery and social security for workers, with a particular focus on the new forms of work that have arisen as a result of the pandemic, such as of "agile" work.

- Roberto Lagalla, Councilor for Education and Training for the Region of Sicily, on Vocational Education as a Key Element for Change

The event concluded with a round table on climate impacts and the "After Paris" with a look at the actual change in the environmental ecosystem after Covid-19. Environment, agriculture and work in the time of Covid are topics that should be the focus not only now but also in the future.

Conclusions

The agricultural sector is still one of the areas with the highest productivity in Europe. In order to preserve this, it is necessary to implement a policy of sustainability and environmental protection and to see workers as a fundamental resource who must be cherished and protected. It is precisely this human capital - workers and employees - that was at the centre of the debate in Marsala and shows the importance of its role, its competence and its professional training. In addition, during the work, it was followed how work has taken a new direction due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The fight against and containment of the spread of the Covid 19 virus in the workplace and above all the protection of agricultural production on the one hand and the health of workers on the other hand is not only the will of the individual countries, but of Europe as a whole. In this context, social dialogue plays a central role in overcoming a crisis like the current one by means of a common EU policy.