Illegal Affairs Double in 10 Years
- The estimated turnover of agromafia activities in Italy has doubled over the past 13 years, climbing from €12.5 billion to an estimated €25.2 billion.
- The study, conducted in collaboration with law enforcement, the judiciary, and various institutions, examines the national and international operations of agromafia.
- The report highlights the exploitation of migrant workers through illegal labor practices managed by both Italian and foreign criminal networks.
Italian Agromafia Turnover Doubles in 13 Years, Reaching €25.2 Billion
Table of Contents
- Italian Agromafia Turnover Doubles in 13 Years, Reaching €25.2 Billion
- Italian Agromafia: Unveiling the €25.2 Billion Shadow Economy
- What is the Italian Agromafia?
- How Big is the Italian Agromafia?
- What are the Key Activities of the Agromafia?
- Where Does the Agromafia Operate?
- Which Sectors are Most Vulnerable?
- What are “Italian Sounding” Products?
- How Does the Agromafia Affect Honest Businesses?
- What is the “Caselli Law”?
- Key Facts & Figures Summary
- Why is the Agromafia a Threat?
- What Measures are Being Taken to Combat the Agromafia?
The estimated turnover of agromafia activities in Italy has doubled over the past 13 years, climbing from €12.5 billion to an estimated €25.2 billion. According to a new report by Eurispes and the Observatory Foundation on crime in agriculture and agri-food system, in collaboration with Coldiretti, this growth experienced a slight dip in 2021 during the pandemic crisis, decreasing from €24.5 billion in 2019 to €23.5 billion.
The study, conducted in collaboration with law enforcement, the judiciary, and various institutions, examines the national and international operations of agromafia. the agri-food sector holds strategic importance for Italy,with exports reaching a record value of €69.1 billion in 2024.
Agromafia’s Expanding Reach: A €25.2 Billion Business
The report highlights the exploitation of migrant workers through illegal labor practices managed by both Italian and foreign criminal networks. Coldiretti notes that agromafia exploits bureaucratic loopholes to facilitate illegal lending, acquire farms, and launder money. Honest business owners face threats and property damage, forcing them to sell land and businesses, exacerbated by international tensions and rising production costs.
The agri-food sector, valued at €620 billion across the entire supply chain, is an attractive target for organized crime. The agromafia phenomenon is increasingly structured and affects all stages of the supply chain. Activities range from food product adulteration to cybercrime and cyber laundering, including money laundering through investments in catering and large retail operations.
Illegal credit schemes and worker exploitation through sham companies providing labor via illegal contracts, as well as transnational organizations involved in agricultural labor, are also prevalent.
Cyber Fraud and Money laundering in catering and Retail
According to Coldiretti, the primary targets are public funds, market control, and contracts, often facilitated by complicit professionals and falsified documents. Infiltration extends to catering, fruit and vegetable markets, and large retailers. Food fraud, involving adulterated or mislabeled products often sold in discount stores, remains a meaningful concern.
The wine, oil, feed, and rice sectors are especially vulnerable, with instances of prohibited pesticides and fraudulent organic certifications linked to imports from Eastern Europe. The proliferation of “Italian sounding” products—those marketed with Italian references but not produced in Italy—and packaging fraud also pose challenges.
Coldiretti is urging Parliament to swiftly approve the “Caselli law,” a sanctions package for agriculture and fishing recently approved by the Council of Ministers, overcoming resistance from multinational corporations and segments of the large-scale retail sector.
Italian Agromafia: Unveiling the €25.2 Billion Shadow Economy
What is the Italian Agromafia?
The Italian “agromafia” refers to organized criminal activity within Italy’s agricultural and agri-food sectors. This includes a wide range of illegal activities that exploit the vulnerabilities of the food supply chain, impacting everything from production to distribution and sales.
How Big is the Italian Agromafia?
the agromafia is a substantial economic force. The estimated turnover of agromafia activities in Italy has doubled over the past 13 years. It has grown from €12.5 billion to an estimated €25.2 billion.
What are the Key Activities of the Agromafia?
Agromafia activities are diverse and pervasive, affecting various stages of the agricultural and food supply chain. These can be broadly categorized as follows:
Exploitation of Migrant Workers: This involves illegal labor practices, often facilitated by both Italian and foreign criminal networks.
Financial Crimes: This encompasses activities such as illegal lending, acquiring farms through fraudulent means, and money laundering.
Food fraud: This includes adulteration, mislabeling of products, and the use of prohibited pesticides, especially affecting sectors like wine, oil, feed, and rice production.
Cybercrime and cyber Laundering: Leveraging digital means for financial crimes, including money laundering through investments in catering and large retail operations.
Corruption and Infiltration: Targeting public funds, market control, and contracts, often with the help of complicit professionals and falsified documents.
Where Does the Agromafia Operate?
The agromafia’s tentacles extend throughout the Italian agri-food sector, from production to retail:
Production: Exploitation of migrant workers in fields, using illegal credit schemes, and acquiring farms fraudulently.
Processing: Adulteration of food products, fraudulent organic certifications, and the use of prohibited pesticides.
Distribution: Infiltration of catering, fruit and vegetable markets, and large retailers.
Retail: Sale of adulterated or mislabeled products.
Which Sectors are Most Vulnerable?
Certain sectors within the agri-food industry are particularly susceptible to agromafia influence,including:
Wine: Fraudulent labeling and adulteration.
Olive Oil: Counterfeit products and mislabeling.
Animal Feed: Use of substandard materials.
Rice: instances of prohibited pesticides and fraudulent certifications.
What are “Italian Sounding” Products?
“Italian sounding” products are those that are marketed with Italian references (e.g., using Italian flags, colors, or names) but are not actually produced in Italy. this is a form of food fraud that the agromafia exploits to mislead consumers and gain profits.
How Does the Agromafia Affect Honest Businesses?
The agromafia’s activities substantially impact honest business owners in several ways:
Exploitation and Intimidation: Honest businesses face threats, property damage, and extortion.
Unfair Competition: Criminal activities create an uneven playing field and drive legitimate businesses out of the market.
Bureaucratic Obstacles: Agromafia exploits bureaucratic loopholes, which can create further burden for legitimate businesses.
What is the “Caselli Law”?
The “Caselli law” is a proposed sanctions package for agriculture and fishing in Italy. It aims to combat agromafia activities by providing stricter penalties and regulations to protect the sector.
Key Facts & Figures Summary
Hear’s a fast overview of key data points related to the italian Agromafia:
| category | Details |
|---|---|
| Estimated Turnover | €25.2 billion |
| turnover increase (Last 13 Years) | Doubled |
| Agri-food Sector Value (Supply Chain) | €620 billion |
| Record Agri-food Exports (2024) | €69.1 billion |
| Key Activities | Exploitation of migrant workers, food fraud, cybercrime, money laundering, infiltration. |
| Most Vulnerable Sectors | Wine, oil, feed, rice. |
Why is the Agromafia a Threat?
The agromafia poses a severe threat to:
Economic Stability: Undermines fair competition and investment in the agri-food sector
Consumer Safety: Introduces unsafe and adulterated food products.
worker Rights: Exploits vulnerable workers through illegal labor practices.
Public Trust: erodes the integrity of Italy’s renowned food industry.
What Measures are Being Taken to Combat the Agromafia?
Law Enforcement and Judicial Collaboration: Ongoing investigations and prosecutions.
Legislative Action: The push for the “Caselli law” and other measures to strengthen regulations and sanctions.
Collaboration among Stakeholders:* joint efforts by organizations like Coldiretti, Eurispes, and the Observatory Foundation.