Tg Ambiente, edition of 14 May 2024

We talk about record heat, greenhouse gas emissions, markets and 'designer' fruit salads

NEVER SO HOT IN APRIL: IT’S THE 11TH CONSECUTIVE RECORD MONTH

April 2024 was warmer globally than any April since records began, with an average surface air temperature of 15.03 degrees Celsius, 0.14 degrees above the previous maximum set in April 2016. The data was released by the Copernicus Climate Change Service, which publishes monthly bulletins. This is the 11th warmest month in a row. While unusual, a similar streak of monthly global temperature records also occurred previously in 2015-2016. The average global temperature of the last 12 months is however the highest ever recorded, with 0.73 degrees above the average for the reference period between 1991 and 2020 and 1.61 degrees above the pre-industrial average (1850-1900).

ITALY ASPHYSICATED BY TRANSPORT: GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS CONTINUE TO INCREASE

Greenhouse gas emissions in Italy continue to grow and will reach a total of 413 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2022 (+0.4% compared to 2021). The constant increase in the transport sector is decisive, over 90% of whose emissions come from road transport, “which compared to the previous year marks a +5% and confirms a trend that knows no pauses and exceeds 7% since 1990, value that goes against the trend compared to those of all other economic sectors with the exception of waste”. These are the official data from the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research that emerged from the latest edition of the Report on greenhouse gas emissions in Italy. In addition to transport (26% of the national total), the energy production (23%), residential (18%) and manufacturing industry (13%) sectors are those that contribute to approximately half of national emissions of climate-changing gases .

A FRUIT FRUIT SYMBOL OF THE UNION OF 10 FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SUPPLY CHAIN PROJECTS

A ‘signature’ fruit salad which symbolizes the union of 10 Italian fruit and vegetable supply chain projects and which demonstrates how “together we can do better and grow” also in representing the value of agri-food products made in Italy. It is the one presented by the Agrocepi Agricultural Federation at Macfrut in Rimini, and it is the first of the ‘Nature’s Recipes’ project promoted by this ‘fruit and vegetable community’. The ‘Sweet and Savory Fruit Salad’, this is the name of the dish, was created by the food mentor Marco Bianchi, and was also tasted by the Minister of Agriculture and Made in Italy Francesco Lollobrigida, who visited the association’s stand. At Macfrut, Agrocepi promoted debates, focuses and presentations with representatives of government institutions, parliamentarians, trade associations and credit institutions on topics of particular interest for the sector. Among these, the ‘Charter of Values for Europe’ was also presented, a document adopted by the Federation in view of the renewal of the European Parliament and the meeting with the delegation of the ‘Italian Farmers’, the association that brought to the streets the last months the tractors to protest against the community policies relating to the agricultural world.

‘MERCATI D’AUTORE’ CLOSES WITH A BEAUTIFUL CLOSE IN ROME: YOUNG CHEFS AWARDED

Thirty exhibitors, six sponsors, five hotel institutes involved, dozens of companies present. And then show cooking, tastings, masterclasses on wine and oil and debates. In Rome the ‘Mercati d’Autore’ event closed on a high note, with a great event at the headquarters of the Tor Carbone-Narducci hotel institute. Thousands of citizens arrived in the outdoor spaces of the school in the Appia park to taste the products for tasting and for sale, both local and arriving from other regions: from the sheep’s tanned products of Poggio Mirteto and the pecorino cheeses of Montefiascone, to bread from Genzano, up to the cheeses from Montorio Romano, the porchetta from the Fucino plain, the smoked provola from Campania, the oil from Fara Sabina or the tigelle from Gaeta. The event brought cooking experts, presidents of Roman local markets, exhibitors and producers to what was once the villa of director Roberto Rossellini. “It was a beautiful journey that began last October – said Antonio D’Angelo, CEO of ‘Mercati d’autore’ – We spoke with institutions and people and proposals were born for the future of the markets, which are in great development”.