DEBATE TIME 11 Read these newspaper articles and use them as for debating the following motions. food for thought 1. Italian exports cannot be safeguarded from italian sounding. Fake Made in Italy How can we relabel “Made in Italy” the portion of our agri-food exports that got lost? Italian sounding can be cut down, if we enhance distribution and patent protection, through new commercial agreements and a commercial network which joins Italian and foreign entrepreneurs. Parmesan, ragù and balsamic vinegar are the most imitated products. In Japan, Germany and Brazil 7 out of 10 products are not original. The export turnover of agri-food products perceived as Italian is worth over 129 billion euros, of which only 40% goes to companies that produce genuine Made in Italy products. The rest, the largest slice, feeds the fake industry. Adapted from: https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/italian-sounding-si-puo-limare-se-migliorano-distribuzione-e-tutela-brevetti-AEq94lXD?refresh_ce=1 2. Artisanal food production is healthier than industrial food production. Good Food, Good Farming At production level, our food system is based on intensive industrialisation, and relies on the heavy use of synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilisers and monocultures which threaten human health and biodiversity. What’s more, profits generated by industrial agriculture fall in the hands of few transnational corporations, forcing local farming communities into poorly paid labour. At market level, the food industry prioritises profit over social and environmental concerns. For example, marketing strategies like “buy 2-for-1” deals and limited time offers encourage over-purchasing and waste. Additionally, aesthetic market standards for food products are unnecessarily high, resulting in perfectly fine food being rejected or discarded by supermarkets. Adapted from: https://www.slowfood.com/the-good-food-good-farming-movement-campaigns-for-a-better-eu-food-system/