Agri-Talk Florence: Strategies and Vision for the Future of Italian Agrifood with €10 Billion to Support SMEs
Sustainability, internationalization, and risk management: these are the key pillars shaping the future of Italy’s agrifood sector, as strongly emerged during the Agri-Talk event held in Florence. The initiative, promoted by Banca dei Territori under the leadership of Stefano Barrese, and driven by the widespread efforts of the Agribusiness Department, introduces a new format aimed at enhancing the country’s strategic supply chains.
Set in the evocative Auditorium of the Innovation Center at Fondazione CR Firenze, the first event of the 2024 series took place on June 6, focusing entirely on the wine sector. It brought together Intesa Sanpaolo’s expertise with institutional representatives and wine entrepreneurs.
"We have decided to allocate €10 billion to agrifood supply chains because this sector is a strategic asset for the country," stated Massimiliano Cattozzi, Head of the Agribusiness Department at Intesa Sanpaolo’s Banca dei Territori Division. "This new credit initiative adds to those already in place and is aimed at supporting agrifood businesses along key development axes: internationalization, energy, and sustainability."
In the agrifood sector alone, Intesa Sanpaolo has launched 172 Supply Chain Development Programs, 34 of which follow ESG criteria, involving over 8,200 strategic suppliers and generating an aggregate turnover exceeding €22 billion.
Cattozzi also highlighted the challenges facing Italian companies, starting with climate change, which in 2024 alone led to agricultural losses estimated at over €9 billion. Added to this are the needs to innovate production processes—with 4.0 agriculture still not widely adopted—and to adapt to evolving consumption models that increasingly favor sustainability and short supply chains.
"Sustainability is no longer a choice; it's a necessary condition for competitiveness," Cattozzi continued. "And in the world of wine, we see examples of companies that, by investing in environment, governance, and quality, have achieved outstanding results. Among the many economic benefits are easier access to foreign markets, the ability to attract investments, and growing consumer recognition of the value of sustainable production."
The roundtable discussion that followed brought together experts from Intesa Sanpaolo and the broader Italian system, emphasizing the importance of business scale and extraordinary finance. It underscored how crucial it is today to "move beyond the 'small is beautiful' paradigm" in order to compete globally.
Tools available for hedging financial risks—interest rates, currency, commodities—were showcased, highlighting the importance of tailored strategies to protect margins and investment value.
On the internationalization front, the opportunities enabled by the agreement between Intesa Sanpaolo and Simest were presented, offering access to subsidized financing for global expansion—from international promotion and trade fair participation to direct investment in target countries.
Finally, there was a focus on the demands of Italian companies, increasingly interested in expanding beyond national borders, even amid geopolitical instability, in pursuit of stable markets, institutional contacts, and simple, integrated, and fast solutions.
The testimony of the Piccini Group and the Historical Super Tuscans Committee provided compelling examples of how Tuscany's wine excellence is being successfully exported worldwide.
Through Agri-Talk, Intesa Sanpaolo not only reaffirms its role as a partner for businesses but also promotes an open, action-oriented dialogue focused on the real needs of supply chains. After the wine sector, future events will be dedicated to dairy, meat, olive oil, and fruit and vegetables.