Yesterday, the Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights hosted an important conference titled “Contrasto alle Agromafie” (Combating Agromafias) as part of the initiatives organised for the G7 Agriculture and Fisheries summit, held this year in Siracusa.
The event was attended by leading experts engaged in the fight against mafia infiltration in the agri-food sector. After introductory remarks from the Mayor of Siracusa, Francesco Italia, and the President of the Siracusa International Institute, Jean-François Thony, the President of the Parliamentary Anti-Mafia Commission, Chiara Colosimo, opened the event, stressing the urgency of paying greater attention to the so-called “Mafia 4.0” phenomenon, in order to preserve the integrity of Made in Italy. She was followed by Andrea Delmastro, Undersecretary of State for Justice, and Nello Musumeci, Minister for Civil Protection and Maritime Policy, who outlined the main strategies to combat this growing threat.
During the first session of the conference, Francesco Greco, former Prosecutor of the Republic of Milan, examined the latest developments in criminal law relating to mafia activities in the agricultural sector. He was joined by Professor Vincenzo Militello of the University of Palermo, Maria Rosaria Laganà, Director of the National Agency for Seized and Confiscated Assets from Organised Crime, and Jacopo Morrone, President of the Parliamentary Commission of inquiry on illegal activities related to waste management and other environmental and agri-food crimes.
During the second session, Brigadier General Donato Monaco of MASAF (Coordinator of the Food Control Unit and Deputy Chief of Staff) and Felice Assenza, Head of the Central Inspectorate for the Protection of Food Quality of MASAF, stressed the importance of coordination between national and international law enforcement agencies in the fight against food fraud. They were joined by Lieutenant General Andrea Rispoli (Commander of the Carabinieri’s Forestry, Environment and Agri-food Unit) and Rear Admiral Giovanni Canu (Head of the Plans and Operations Department of the General Command of the Port Authority), who stressed the importance of territorial control and continuous monitoring for the security of agri-food supply chains. Dr. Roberto Alesse and General Luigi Vinciguerra also provided important insights.
The conference concluded with a speech by the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, who highlighted how the economic impact of organised crime not only causes direct damage but also deeply affects the image and reputation of Made in Italy, with serious consequences at international level.
Hosting this significant event confirms the central role played by the Siracusa International Institute, both nationally and internationally, once again establishing itself as a centre of excellence in the fight against crime and the defence of the rule of law.
