The Region is closely monitoring the issue of stockpiles and overproduction. Says the Tuscan Councillor for Productive Activities Leonardo Marras: «The wine economy in Tuscany is very important, strategic, we cannot think of a generic reduction in production. We are in constant contact with the Consortia and producers of the region to understand what is the best strategy to face this period of crisis. We realize that it is a structural difficulty – adds Marras -, so we cannot act alone, as a Region: for this reason we are in contact with the other regional departments of agriculture because together we must synthesize with the Italian Ministry and with Europe».
The idea is to develop a complex strategy that addresses the issue from all points of view: from production to planning, from sales to promotion, towards new markets and tourism. «We have made minimal use of the possibility of new plantings – says Marras – trying to meet individual needs, such as adjustments or modifications to companies. But we are in the order of just 1%. At the same time, we have from the OCM (the European Regulation to stabilize agricultural markets and support producers, ed.) annual contributions ranging from 26 to 30 million. But we do not want to use them only for the so-called “green harvests” or for surgical uprooting».
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The green harvest is an agricultural practice and a support measure of the European Union that consists of the total destruction or removal of grape clusters that are not yet ripe. Winegrowers receive a fixed payment for each hectare in which they destroy the crop.
«Wine is part of our economy and our culture – says Marras – for this reason it is important to have a clear production plan but to insist on and support our producers in promoting their labels and the Tuscany brand towards new foreign markets and in wine tourism activities».
Uprooting «is an option that must be carefully evaluated. I appreciated the intervention of Francesco Mazzei, of the Maremma Consortium, I believe that a common strategic vision is the basis of any decision». A decision that must concern the entire sector and the entire supply chain, «which represent one of the main structures of the Tuscan economy – adds the councillor -. We must help our producers, support them and have them supported by supra-regional, Italian and European structures, so that this passage becomes a constructive change».
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