Digital innovation and the green transition are the key trends shaping the present and future of the Italian agri-food sector. These insights come from a survey conducted by the Tagliacarne Institute, Unioncamere, and the Rural Hack Research Center. The survey is at the heart of Agrifood Future, a five-day event in Salerno involving institutions, businesses, and research organizations, aiming to foster an open discussion about the future of the sector.
The research indicates that between 2022 and 2024, 54% of agri-food companies will invest in green initiatives, a higher percentage compared to the overall average across industries (51%). Additionally, 32% of agri-food companies are planning to adopt Industry 4.0 technologies within the next year. However, several barriers hinder these sustainability investments, including the high costs of green raw materials (23%), limited awareness of public incentives (22%), insufficient financial resources (21%), and difficulties in accessing government incentives (19%).
Digital developments face similar challenges, including high technology costs (30%), insufficient financial resources (26%), and a lack of information (14%). Despite these challenges, the agri-food sector is essential to Italy's economy, with strong export performance and a substantial presence in quality agri-food products and denominations protected by designations of origin. The sector's future will depend on addressing these challenges and capitalizing on its strengths, including its digitalization and green transition initiatives.
