Italy is facing a rise in chronic diseases (obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and liver diseases) which are placing a strain on public health and the National Health Service’s expenditure. The quality of food, enhanced by short supply chains and fresh local produce, reinforces the Mediterranean diet, a powerful tool for prevention. Promoting these production methods and food sovereignty is therefore a strategic investment in public health to reduce chronic conditions and support the National Health Service.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- Italy is facing a growing health challenge linked to the rise in chronic non-communicable diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and metabolic liver diseases. These conditions represent one of the main causes of morbidity, mortality and rising public healthcare expenditure.
- In this context, the quality of the diet takes on strategic importance not only in terms of individual health, but also for the economic sustainability of the National Health Service (NHS).
- Local supply chains and short supply chains can promote greater availability of fresh, seasonal and less-processed products, helping to reinforce adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern.
- The Mediterranean diet is one of the most robust tools for primary prevention available, with well-established evidence of its ability to reduce cardiovascular, metabolic and inflammatory risk.
- The promotion of local produce and Mediterranean culture can therefore be seen not merely as an agricultural or cultural policy, but as a strategic investment in the context of public health.
- From this perspective, food sovereignty takes on a public health dimension. Today, improving the nutritional quality of the population means investing in the prevention of chronic diseases, contributing to the sustainability of the NHS and safeguarding the country’s human capital.