Business · Economy · 12 hrs ago
Italy’s Senate approves more than €1 billion for agriculture
Italy’s Senate approved the ColtivaItalia agriculture bill, making it law after the lower house had already passed it.
The vote was 76 in favour, none against and 64 abstentions, with opposition members abstaining.
The law allocates more than €1 billion to agriculture to support production and strengthen food supply chains.
It includes €300 million for Italian livestock, €300 million for local supply chains and €300 million for a national olive plan running from 2026 to 2030.
Another €150 million is set aside for young and women entrepreneurs, while €70 million will support crops including wheat, barley, maize and plant proteins.
The funding is intended to strengthen key food production and reduce Italy’s dependence on imports, which Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida said can leave the country vulnerable to supply disruptions.
Implementation decrees are due before funds can be used, with spending expected to begin in the first months of 2027.
Italy’s Senate approved the Coltiva Italia bill on 4 November, making it law.
The measure allocates more than €1.1 billion to agriculture.
Funding targets livestock, local supply chains, the national olive plan, food sovereignty and youth and women’s businesses.
Implementing decrees are due to make the funds available in the first months of 2027.
- Who
- Italy’s Senate approved the bill, introduced by the government.
- What
- Coltiva Italia became law, allocating more than €1.1 billion to agriculture.
- When
- The Senate approved it on 4 November 2026.
- Where
- Italy.
- Why
- To strengthen strategic agricultural supply chains and support the sector.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Chamber of Deputies approved the bill without votes against it.
The Senate approved the bill with 76 votes in favour, none against and 64 abstentions, making it law.
Implementing decrees are expected to make the funds available.
- Senate vote
- 76 in favour, 0 against, 64 abstentions
- Total allocation
- More than €1.1 billion
- Livestock
- €300 million
- Local supply chains
- €300 million
- National olive plan
- €300 million for 2026–2030
- Youth and women’s businesses
- €150 million
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What people are saying
The Coltiva Italia is the main strategic intervention in agriculture since the Quadrifoglio law prepared by the then minister Giovanni Marcora in the 1970s.
We are aware that we could never become completely independent of imports for agri-food production. But we would at least like to become a little less dependent.