Wolves, wild boars, and bureaucracy: the challenges of Varesini farmers

Context

TL;DR

• Confagricoltura Varese assembly discussed agricultural challenges
• Farmers demand less bureaucracy and more investment support
• Wild fauna like wolves and boars threaten crops and safety
• Policy fragmentation between EU and local levels causes issues

Key facts

• Event: 79th ordinary general assembly of Confagricoltura Varese
• Date: Sunday, April 26, 2026
• Location: Ville Ponti, Varese
• Organizer: Confagricoltura Varese
• Key Speaker: Giacomo Brusa, President of Confagricoltura Varese
• Attendees: Giancarlo Giorgetti, Attilio Fontana, Maria Chiara Gadda, Marco Magrini
• Main Issues: Bureaucracy, wild fauna, and policy fragmentation

In brief

• Confagricoltura Varese Assembly: agricultural challenges
• Bureaucracy and wild fauna among the main problems
• Requests for less paperwork and more support for investments

Key facts

• What: 79th ordinary general assembly of Confagricoltura Varese
• When: Sunday, April 26, 2026
• Where: Ville Ponti, Varese
• Who: Confagricoltura Varese, Giacomo Brusa, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Attilio Fontana, Maria Chiara Gadda, Marco Magrini
• Amount: Not specified

The 79th ordinary general assembly of Confagricoltura Varese was held this morning, Sunday, April 26, at Ville Ponti in Varese. The chosen title for the occasion was 'The future is sown now'. A programmatic message, not a slogan, that ran through every intervention of the morning. The round table featured the Minister of Economy Giancarlo Giorgetti, the President of the Lombardy Region Attilio Fontana, the honorable Maria Chiara Gadda, and the President of the Province of Varese Marco Magrini. Also in video connection was the national president of Confagricoltura Massimiliano Giansanti.

The speech by the president of Confagricoltura Varese, Giacomo Brusa, took center stage in the morning and touched on all the critical issues of the sector, from the European level to the specificities of the provincial territory. Brusa opened with a historical reading: agriculture in Varesotto has its roots in the Neolithic period, in the pile dwellings of Isolino Virginia on Lake Varese, the first settlement of its kind in northern Italy. 'From those roots we have grown, from those roots we must start again with awareness and responsibility', he said. But he immediately clarified that looking at the roots does not mean looking back: 'We must innovate knowing that in the agricultural sector innovating means cultivating value'.

Brusa described with concern what he defined as a 'perfect storm' for Italian agriculture: wars, trade tensions, climate change, phytopathies, zoonoses, regulatory and political uncertainties, and penalizing European policies. 'Geopolitical crises have increased the prices of energy, fertilizers, raw materials, and gas. Costs are rising, product prices are plummeting, businesses are put to the test to the point of concretely risking economic unsustainability and therefore closure or bankruptcy. And we know very well that when a farm closes, it closes forever, especially here in Varese'.

Requests to institutions

Brusa addressed the institutions present in the room with a list of concrete requests, clearly stated: 'First of all, we need less bureaucracy, because today those who work in agriculture often find themselves spending more time with paperwork than in the fields or in the barn. We need more support for investments, because innovating has a cost and we cannot pretend it does not. We need more trust in businesses, because farmers are not the problem, they are part of the solution'. He then added an explicit criticism of the fragmentation of policies: 'It is not possible to say one thing in Brussels, another in Rome, and yet another at the local level'.

And he indicated the urgent priorities for the Varese area: management of out-of-control wild fauna, progressive loss of agricultural land, excessive fragmentation of land ownership, absence of an agricultural policy dedicated to the pre-Alpine and foothill areas, and protection of local businesses in public tenders. On this last point, Brusa was clear: 'These are maintenance of green spaces or forest lots often won by 'martians' from other worlds who cannot guarantee adequate services and are forced to strangle local businesses with the perverse logic of subcontracting'.

The wolf has arrived

A very hot topic is that of wild fauna. Brusa recalled having raised the wolf alarm six years ago from the same assembly: 'We predicted that the wolf would arrive, and so it has. Today the problem is serious and requires concrete solutions'.

Operational details

Analysis of Agricultural Challenges

The Confagricoltura Varese assembly highlighted several challenges that farmers face daily. Among these, the presence of wild animals such as wolves and wild boars is an increasing problem. These animals damage crops and put farmers' safety at risk, making more effective control measures necessary.

Another critical issue is bureaucracy. Farmers often find themselves spending more time managing documentation than working in the fields. This slows down operations and increases costs, making it difficult for local agricultural businesses to remain competitive.

Innovation and Investments

Brusa emphasized the importance of innovating and investing in the agricultural sector. However, he pointed out that investments come at a cost and that greater support from institutions is needed. Without adequate support, agricultural businesses risk being unable to afford the necessary costs to modernize and remain competitive.

Agricultural Policies and Fragmentation

The fragmentation of agricultural policies at the European, national, and local levels is another significant problem. Differences in regulations and support offered at different levels of government create confusion and make it difficult for farmers to plan and manage their activities efficiently.

Public Tenders and Protection of Local Businesses

Brusa criticized the management of public tenders, highlighting that local businesses are often disadvantaged by external competitors who do not guarantee adequate services. This problem is particularly evident in the maintenance of green spaces and the management of forest lots, where local businesses are often excluded in favor of external companies.

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Key points

What to do to tackle agricultural challenges

To address the challenges highlighted during the Confagricoltura Varese assembly, a coordinated and concrete approach is necessary. Here are some actions that can be taken:

Wildlife management

1. Monitoring and control: Implement wildlife monitoring and control systems to prevent crop damage and ensure the safety of farmers. 2. Preventive measures: Promote the use of fences and other preventive measures to protect fields from wolf and wild boar attacks. 3. Collaboration with authorities: Work with local and national authorities to develop effective wildlife management plans.

Reducing bureaucracy

1. Simplifying procedures: Reduce bureaucracy and simplify administrative procedures to allow farmers to spend more time working in the fields. 2. Technological support: Provide technological tools to automate document management and reduce administrative burden. 3. Training: Offer training courses to help farmers manage bureaucracy effectively.

Investments and innovation

1. Financial support: Request more funds to support investments in local agricultural businesses. 2. Tax incentives: Promote tax incentives to encourage innovation and modernization of agricultural businesses. 3. Collaboration with universities: Work with universities and research centers to develop new agricultural technologies and methods.

Coordinated agricultural policies

1. Harmonization of regulations: Work to harmonize agricultural regulations at the European, national, and local levels. 2. Agricultural development plans: Develop coordinated agricultural development plans that take into account the specificities of the Varesotto territory. 3. Constant dialogue: Maintain constant dialogue with institutions to ensure that agricultural policies are effective and meet the needs of farmers.

Protection of local businesses

1. Fair public tenders: Promote fair public tenders that guarantee the participation of local businesses. 2. Rigorous controls: Implement rigorous controls to ensure that external businesses respect quality and safety standards. 3. Support for small businesses: Provide specific support to local small businesses to help them compete with large companies.

For more information and to calculate the impact of these measures on your agricultural activity, use the agricultural calculator.

Source: varesenews.it