Lollobrigida and Gen. Rispoli: “Actions to protect equine breeds”
The Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Francesco Lollobrigida, together with the Commander of the Carabinieri Forestry, Environmental and Agri-food Units, Gen. CA Andrea Rispoli, inaugurated the Masaf pavilion at Fieracavalli in Verona. The Cufa carabinieri – he writes askanews.it – participated in the trade fair event with various stands of the Carabinieri biodiversity protection command and with a large representation of the military from the agri-food protection command. Minister Lollobrigida highlighted the opportunity to make the action in the horse racing sector by the Carabinieri and in particular by the agri-food protection departments more punctual, also through more targeted and synergistic controls, in close collaboration with the general management for horse racing. The objective is to promote the improvement, qualitative and quantitative increase of horse breeds in Italy to develop horse farming in all its aspects, a sector that represents an important economic and naturalistic sector of the entire nation, among the first in the world.
“The Masaf subsidies to racecourses, for the management, operation and improvement of the facilities and all related services, require careful checks and verifications by all the institutions in charge, to combat any form of illicit and misuse of public funds. The same attention will be paid to activities related to the organization of games and sports betting, which contribute to investments in the sector, as well as to the prevention and fight against the phenomenon of animal doping", declares the General andrea rispoli.
The Carabinieri will be able to provide a decisive contribution of competence and specialization to defend both the animal welfare of the horse and the entire horse racing sector from criminal interests, which can hinder its development and competitiveness at an international level. “The minister's directives are already being implemented, with various inspections and checks in various racecourses by the police and ministry technicians, which will be strengthened and increased in the coming periods. The objective is to bring a very important sector back to the center of attention, both for its economic, social, technical and cultural implications, and for the protection of the environment and national biodiversity", adds General Rispoli.
In this important mission, alongside the agri-food protection command, the Carabinieri biodiversity group operates, present at the fair with various stands presenting institutional activities and with equestrian demonstrations to protect native equine breeds, enhancing them and preserving their conservation through 7 equestrian selection centers , as well as dedicating itself to educational and dissemination activities. The approximately 100 foals that are born every year immediately receive the imprinting of sweet taming, bred and nourished in natural and protected environments, contributing to the maintenance and selection of some particularly valuable and rare native breeds, which will, among other , to feed the cuirassiers, the mounted carabinieri regiment and the mounted units, operating in the institute services for the protection of protected areas.
“The institutional activities of the Carabinieri environmental forestry and agri-food unit command in the horse racing sector and in the protection of equine species, under the direction of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, will increasingly contribute to the defence, relaunch and development of the sector , also with the aim of improving Italian competitiveness, while protecting its precious natural heritage", declares Minister Lollobrigida.
