Italy's sprawling network of agro-food cooperatives has officially elected Raffaele Drei as president of Confcooperative Agroalimentare e Pesca, consolidating leadership of an organization that represents 2,500 enterprises, 407,000 members, 75,000 employees, and nearly €38 billion in annual turnover—more than a fifth of the entire Italian agro-food sector. The decision, ratified by 250 delegates from across the country during a national assembly in Rome, signals a determined push to strengthen the competitiveness of Italy's cooperative model at a time when Brussels is preparing new agricultural funding frameworks.
Why This Matters:
• Italy's agricultural cooperatives face scrutiny over future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) support levels in the coming budget cycle.
• Drei's leadership will prioritize aggregation among cooperatives to build critical mass and negotiating power on global markets.
• The federation officially rebranded from Fedagripesca to Confcooperative Agroalimentare e Pesca, reflecting a more integrated approach across production chains.
• Young recruitment and family succession remain important for the sector's long-term sustainability.
A Cooperative Leader Takes the Helm
Drei brings decades of cooperative management experience to the role. He currently serves as vice-president of Conserve Italia and is a long-time cooperative executive. His appointment was initially made by the national council in December 2024, but the assembly formalized the decision in front of Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida and hundreds of cooperative leaders.
The federation's rebranding from Fedagripesca underscores a strategic pivot: rather than separating fishing and farming interests, Confcooperative Agroalimentare e Pesca now emphasizes the interconnectedness of food production chains. This structural shift is designed to streamline advocacy, pool resources, and present a unified front as the European Union prepares its next financial framework.
Competitiveness Under Pressure
The cooperative sector has posted impressive growth—turnover jumped 25% over the past four years—but the expansion has raised questions about sustainability and market positioning. Drei has made clear that adequate and stable CAP resources are essential for the sector's future. In his address to the assembly, he called for a policy framework that actively supports competitiveness and reduces bureaucratic burdens on farmers.
He also urged the European Commission to strengthen sectoral interventions, establish effective risk management systems, and channel funding into research and innovation. The sector faces real challenges: market volatility, climate shocks, and the need for continued investment in modernization and quality improvement.
Aggregation as Strategic Imperative
One of Drei's core messages is that scale matters. Italian cooperatives, while collectively powerful, often operate in fragmented clusters that limit their bargaining power with multinational buyers and retailers. Confcooperative is now pushing for public policies that reward mergers and partnerships among cooperatives, arguing that aggregation enhances project capacity, market leverage, and access to international supply chains.
The federation points to the success of medium and large cooperatives as evidence that consolidation can drive competitive advantage. Yet the cooperative universe remains populated by micro and small enterprises, many of which struggle to compete on price or invest in technology. By incentivizing mergers, Drei hopes to build Italian agro-food champions capable of negotiating directly with global retailers and securing premium shelf space for Made in Italy products.
Generational Renewal: A Work in Progress
Attracting young people into farming and fishing remains a challenge for the sector. Supporting the next generation of farmers and fishermen is essential for rural communities and Italy's agricultural future.
Drei has called for active policies to make the sector more appealing: improved managerial training, access to startup capital, and public support for young entrepreneurs. The assembly underscored the importance of innovation, quality, and sustainability as pillars of a modern cooperative model, emphasizing organic production and environmental stewardship as both market differentiators and recruitment tools.
Fishing Sector Demands Policy Attention
The fishing component of Confcooperative's portfolio carries its own set of concerns. Drei and his colleagues argue that the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) must balance environmental goals with the economic and social sustainability of coastal communities. The sector faces chronic challenges: aging fleets, rising fuel costs, and questions about quota allocation, particularly for small-scale operators.
Confcooperative is calling for a comprehensive CFP reform that addresses the needs of fishing cooperatives and coastal economies. The federation also emphasizes the importance of continued support through existing funding mechanisms and advocates for policies that enable people to remain in their home territories rather than migrate to cities.
Drei advocates for a coordinated policy approach that recognizes the interconnections between agriculture, fishing, transport, tourism, and the broader blue economy, creating structural solutions for rural and coastal zones.
What This Means for Residents
For Italians, the policy decisions made in Brussels and Rome over the coming months will have real implications for agricultural cooperatives and rural communities. Cooperatives are embedded in the economic fabric of rural Italy: they provide jobs, sustain local supply chains, and preserve traditional production methods.
The sector's ability to invest in quality, sustainability, and modernization will depend on adequate policy support and funding frameworks. How policymakers balance environmental objectives with economic viability will shape the future of farming and fishing communities across the country. Drei and his allies will continue advocating for policies that support the cooperative model's competitive position in European markets.
