The spread of African swine fever (ASF) in northern Italy is raising alarms among pork producers and threatening the country’s esteemed prosciutto and pork industry, valued at €20 billion. Following a positive ASF test in one of Giovanni Airoli’s sows in late August, all 6,200 pigs on his farm near Milan were swiftly slaughtered under strict protocols to contain the disease.
Since the outbreak began in January 2022, nearly 120,000 pigs have been culled in Italy, with three-quarters of those losses occurring in the past two months as the emergency escalated. “It’s a desolation,” said Airoli, highlighting the stringent measures now in place on his farm, where access is restricted and hygiene protocols are strictly enforced.
In early September alone, the country reported 24 new outbreaks, primarily in Lombardy, the epicenter of the epidemic. The affected area now covers approximately 4,500 square kilometers, including parts of the neighboring regions of Piedmont and Emilia Romagna, both renowned for their high-quality Parma prosciutto.
The ramifications of the ASF outbreak extend beyond animal health; farmers in the 23,000-square-kilometer zone face additional restrictions due to infected wild boar populations or the creation of buffer zones. The disease, which is fatal to swine but poses no threat to humans, has prompted the powerful agricultural lobby group Coldiretti to estimate damages at €500 million, partly due to import bans that threaten farmers’ livelihoods.
“The spread of swine fever has reached alarming levels, endangering the entire pork sector,” warned Confindustria President Ettore Prandini in a letter to the agricultural minister. In response, the Italian government appointed Giovanni Filippini, a seasoned veterinarian, as a special commissioner to address the crisis.
Filippini has implemented new restrictions on farm access and animal transfers, as well as expanded buffer zones. Early signs suggest these measures are effective, with only one new outbreak reported in the last week of September. “It is a positive sign, but not yet a victory,” said Giovanni Loris Alborali, director of the animal health institute for Lombardy and Emilia Romagna.
As the outbreak unfolded, 12 countries, including China and Mexico, imposed immediate bans on imports of Italian pork products, leading to an estimated €20 million monthly loss in exports. However, markets such as the U.S. and Canada have continued to import pork from unaffected areas.
Airoli, who produces both San Daniele and Parma prosciutto, is uncertain when he will be able to resume raising pigs after the crisis. “The limited availability of fresh pork legs is generating strong production limitations,” stated the Parma Prosciutto Consortium, noting rising raw material costs as “unsustainable.”
Farmers outside the affected regions are taking extra precautions to safeguard their herds. Sergio Visini, who runs an antibiotic-free pig farm in Lombardy, has implemented rigorous sanitation protocols for transport trucks entering his farm. He believes that this outbreak could serve as an opportunity to enhance animal health and welfare in the long run.
As Italy grapples with this severe epidemic, the future of its iconic pork industry hangs in the balance, prompting calls for continued vigilance and proactive measures to prevent further spread of the disease.
