“Full immersion” of the new Minister of Agriculture in the agricultural machinery exhibition taking place at the Bologna Exhibition Centre. Support for agriculture and the agro-mechanical industry in the government’s plans. Meeting with the press in the setting of an exhibition that has already attracted 100 thousand visitors in its first two days and promises great attendance today and over the weekend.
“Agriculture is a strategic component of the national economy and we intend to invest in this sector”. This was the first statement made by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Francesco Lollobrigida to journalists at EIMA International, the major exhibition of agricultural mechanics being held in Bologna.
The meeting with the press was held in the Quadriportico at the centre of the exhibition centre, at the end of a tour of the exhibition pavilions, during which the new Minister of Agriculture was able to see some of the most innovative machines and technologies for agricultural activity, from new-generation tractors to operating machines, from sector components to the most advanced electronic instruments, drones and robots now capable of carrying out field operations autonomously.
“We are here to see, to listen, and then to intervene at a political level,” said the Minister, emphasising the method he intends to adopt in performing his mandate: to make the most of the knowledge heritage of the production sectors, and then to intervene in the most effective way.
During his visit, the Minister took note of the great potential of the agro-mechanical sector, but also of the problems related to rising production costs both in agriculture and in the agro-mechanical industry, which risk holding back the process of renewing machinery and technology on farms. In this regard, the Agriculture Minister reiterated how the government is willing to evaluate incentive measures that can support the sector in this particular phase.
The visit to EIMA took place inside pavilions crowded with businesspeople, agricultural entrepreneurs, but also students and agricultural mechanics enthusiasts, protagonists of an edition that is marching at an exciting pace. Yesterday alone there were 61,900 visitors to the exhibition, which added to the 37,400 on the first day alone brings the total to almost 100,000 visitors, a figure set to increase today and on Saturday and Sunday, which traditionally see very high attendance.
