- 18 September 2025
- Posted by: Competere
- Categories: events, highlights, Resilient Food Systems
The future of agri-food supply chains: resilience, protection, and competitivenessUniversity of Milan
Milan, 18 September 2025
The University of Milan hosted the conference “The Protection of the Agri-Food Supply Chain between Criminal Law, Intellectual Property, Corporate Compliance, and Sustainability,” organized by ALGIUSMI – the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Law, in partnership with Competere.
Pietro Paganini moderated the second session, opening with a monologue dedicated to Luigi Einaudi – farmer, entrepreneur, and innovator. He underlined how Einaudi’s early experiences as an agricultural entrepreneur shaped his later intellectual and political vision on competition, property rights, and trade. The challenges Einaudi identified for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain strikingly relevant today: the protection of brands and geographical indications, the defense of truthful claims, the regulatory burdens affecting global agricultural supply chains, consumer safety, and fair competition.
Three pillars of discussion
The panel discussion was structured around three key pillars:
- The promotion of competition;
- The protection of consumers, both through food safety and public health policies;
- Sustainability and the resilience of agri-food supply chains in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
Insights from industry leaders
The debate featured distinguished speakers who shared perspectives from their respective sectors:
- Cesare Mazzetti, President of the Qualivita Foundation and President of the Consortium for the Protection of Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, who addressed the role of Geographical Indications (GIs) and Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs) in defending quality and authenticity.
- Anna Cane, President of the Italian Association of the Olive Oil Industry, who focused on safeguarding the value chain in the olive oil sector.
- Giovanni Sorlini, Head of Quality, Safety, and Sustainability at Inalca, who discussed the challenges and opportunities in the meat sector.
Their contributions provided a comprehensive overview of the legal, economic, and strategic tools needed to ensure that agri-food supply chains remain competitive, safe, and resilient.