“On p66 of this week’s ‘L’Espresso‘ is their full investigation into the ‘grazing’ mafia widespread across Abruzzo. It features interviews with Professor Lina Calandra, of the University of L’Aquila, and Nunzio Marcelli, breeder and shepherd and president of the Appia Network, the first national network for the defence of traditional pastoralism in Italy, and other Abruzzesi farmers.  

The article highlights how traditional and family pastorialism has become increasingly polluted by the presence of land speculators  and fake farms that have been created to hoard payments and contributions by the European Community.  Against a backdrop of intimidation, strange “accidents”, land grabbing at prices that push local producers out of the market, torched agricultural vehicles, local companies are increasing facing unexpected difficulties, while ‘companies’ and cooperatives thrive.  They rent pastures and place donkeys on it, without producing anything, but cashing in millions, due to a myopic application, by Italy, of the community rules created to favour rural communities.”