Cereal prices at record levels, Coldiretti: "Supply chain agreements, and let's go back to cultivating the island"
The war between Russia and Ukraine drives up the cost of wheat, corn and soy
The prices of raw materials are rising uncontrollably with Russia's war in Ukraine, both countries are among the major exporters of cereals: together they represent 29% of wheat exports and 19% of corn exports. This is the alarm raised by Coldiretti.
"In one week, since the start of the war in Ukraine, the price of wheat has jumped by 38.6% but the price of corn has also increased by 17% and the price of soy for animal feed by 6%. in farms ”, explains the organization on the basis of quotations on the Chicago commodity exchange, the world reference point for trade in agricultural products.
"The most active wheat futures contract closed at $ 11.91-1 / 4 per bushel (27.2 kilos) at its highest since March 2008 while corn at $ 7.6 per bushel at the top in 10 years and soybeans. at $ 16.78 per bushel. The closing of the ports on the Black Sea which prevents shipments and creates a shortage on the market weighs heavily ".
An answer for Coldiretti can come from the supply chain agreements for which the NRP allocates 1.2 billion euros. "In the Sardinia project that we presented to the governor and group leaders of the Regional Council - recalls the director of Coldiretti Cagliari, Luca Saba -, one of the seven points is to re-cultivate the island, and in particular starting from the recovery of 100 thousand hectares irrigated and currently not used for the cultivation of quality feed to be distributed within supply chain agreements between Sardinian farmers and breeders with the guarantee of a fair price for both. Project to be incentivized with a contribution of 200 euros per hectare, for a total intervention of 20 million euros ".
"It is a contradiction to have uncultivated fields and to depend on other countries - underlines Giorgio Demurtas of Coldiretti Cagliari -, it is not a question of autarchic policies but of common sense. A paradox that in these days is emerging in all its brutality, with record prices and the real risk of leaving animals without food, as well as being at the mercy of speculation ".
(Unioneonline / vl)
