1、 1 Required Report:Required-Public Distribution Date:November 20,2024 Report Number:IT2024-0014 Report Name:Agricultural Biotechnology Annual Country:Italy Post:Rome Report Category:Biotechnology and Other New Production Technologies Prepared By:Ornella Bettini Approved By:Neil Mikulski Report Highl

2、ights:This report outlines production,trade,research,policy,and marketing issues of genetically engineered(GE)plants,animal products,and microbial biotechnology in Italy.Despite the countrys general opposition to GE food products,the Italian Minister of Agriculture,Food Sovereignty,and Forests,along

3、 with leading farmer associations(Coldiretti,Confagricoltura,and Cia),Italian agri-food industries,and scientific institutions have shown support for innovative biotechnologies,such as genome editing.In July 2024,the Italian government extended authorization to conduct agricultural biotechnology fie

4、ld trials for experimental and scientific purposes until December 31,2025.2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Agriculture is an important contributor to Italys economy,accounting for approximately 2.2 percent of the countrys Gross Domestic Product(GDP).Italy utilizes imported biotech commodities,mainly soybeans(2.3

5、 million metric tons(MMT)imported in 2023)and soybean meal(1.6 MMT imported in 2023)for feed in its dairy and livestock industries.However,Italian consumer sentiment towards genetically engineered(GE)crops remains hostile and politically unpalatable to support GE research and cultivation.Public and

6、private research funding on GE products has gradually been cut and currently no GE field trials are being conducted in Italy.Despite Italys general opposition to GE products,the Italian Minister of Agriculture,Food Sovereignty,and Forests,along with leading farmers associations(Coldiretti,Confagrico