The Italian industrial tomato supply chain, a hallmark of Italian exports with a turnover of 4 billion euros, is under threat from unfair trade practices from Egypt. Mirco Carloni, president of the Agriculture Committee, has raised concerns that Egypt's tomato-derived exports to Europe have surged by 88% in just the last six months, a warning supported by data from Eurostat. With over 10,000 permanent workers and an additional 25,000 seasonal workers in Italy's tomato industry, the potential impact of these developments is dire.

Egypt is reportedly expanding its agricultural capacity with the New Delta Project, cultivating over a million hectares primarily for export to European markets. This expansion poses competitive challenges as Egyptian producers reportedly adopt farming practices that diverge from European standards, including significant residues of banned pesticides like Macozeb and Chlorpyrifos found on finished products. Furthermore, issues such as child labor, labor exploitation, and the employment of low-cost workers exacerbate the situation, raising ethical considerations for the European market.

Carloni's initiative, which includes a formal inquiry addressed to Italian Ministers Lollobrigida and Schillaci, signifies the urgency of the matter and seeks to address the potential socio-economic repercussions this competition could have. The reliance on Italian-made tomato products not only contributes to the economy but also affects cultural identity in Italian cuisine, making it imperative for policymakers to take action to safeguard the integrity and sustainability of the domestic industry against external pressures.