Italy’s pork industry, including its renowned prosciutto, is facing a daunting challenge as the country fights to contain the spread of swine fever, a devastating virus that is threatening the livelihood of farmers and the local economy.
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Italy to cull 20,000 pigs following African Swine Fever outbreak The virus has alsomeant pig farmer Alberto Cavagnini had to slaughter 1,600 of his hogs and inItaly a total of between 50,000 and 60,000 pigs have been culled in the firsthalf of 2024.
The crisis has devastated the sector, which turns over around 20 billion euros per year and employs 100,000 people. It has especially hit the north of Lombardy, Piedmont and Liguria hard with fears over this contagion even spilling over into France.
Doomsday for a lot of these breeders, many have only one farm to support themselves and the loss of their entire livestock has been heartbreaking. The financial cost is huge — hundreds of millions of euros, with farmers who suffer damage having to wait up to two years for the state compensation.
Being the Point Guard
The government of Italy has acknowledged their urgency to respond what it called a national disaster. The special commissioner, Giovanni Filippini, has been tasked with drawing up the guidelines for a more organized manner in managing the epidemic.
Among the measures taken are prohibitions on the transport of pigs from within and around disease areas, except for direct shipment to a slaughterhouse. We are also establishing barriers and making zones to restrict the movement of wild boars that serve as a viral reservoir.
EU experts who visited Italy in July, however, criticized the country for its handling of the crisis, noting that neighboring regions are each doing their own things with minimal coordination. Furthermore, this report suggested that due to the geographical proximity of all Northern Italian districts, a single and shared strategy be adopted throughout the whole region to increase the overall efficiency of disease control efforts.
Conclusion
For Italy, the struggle against swine fever is a crucial battle – not only for its pork production but also for its wider economy and cultural roots. The government has made efforts to respond to the crisis, but there is more work ahead and coordination needed for a strong response. Securing the future of a national icon such as prosciutto and the thousands of livelihoods that are dependent on pork will need to be addressed through a coordinated effort between all affected parties.
