Riso italiano in difficoltà tra siccità e import agevolato dal Sud Est asiatico

Riso italiano faces difficulties due to drought and low-cost Asian imports. The Risò International Rice Fair, attended by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, highlights the sector's struggles. Climate change, with a particularly hot and dry 2026 summer, impacts rice production, which thrives in water-rich conditions. Additionally, cheap Dutch-imported rice depresses market prices and puts producers at a disadvantage.

Italy leads the European European Union in rice production, with an average annual yield of 1.4 million tons. The upcoming Risò fair will discuss prevention and management tools against climate risks, with particular focus on the international market and the potential impact of zero-duty Asian imports from countries like Cambodia and Myanmar.

A European safeguard clause could curb unfair competition from low-cost imports. Despite water scarcity, Italian production shows some positive signs, with a 1,200-hectare decrease in rice fields. However, the sector still needs to increase contracts with the processing industry to ensure fair remuneration for producers and stable supplies for processors.