Sustainable development of agriculture after COVID-19: guidelines and strategies for agricultural policies. (I Georgofili in occasione del vertice dei ministri dell'agricoltura del G20.)

ABSTRACT

Two years after the start of the health and economic crisis caused by Covid- 19, it seems that the economy is in better condition than expected even if the prospects remain uncertain due to the protracted pandemic. World GDP in 2021 grows more than expected in the world and in Italy;the forecasts for 2022 also show similar dynamics. The agro food system has proved to be an element of support for the world economy in a period where agricultural policies in the EU and other advanced countries are to be renewed. The crisis is an opportunity to update agricultural policies to account for future emergencies. The report addresses a number of issues at the basis of future agricultural policies, starting with the function of sustainable agriculture capable of providing an adequate response to the growing demand for food. This leads to reconsider the relationship with process, product and organizational innovation system based on a close relationship with science and its research method. A completely new agricultural foreign policy must be created to forge links with other countries to be prepared for new emergencies. Sustainability must respects, together with the other elements, the economic issues, that is, the agricultural income and the well-being of society and workers of the agricultural food system.