Tariffs, Exports and Food Culture: Natasha Linhart in Avvenire

By Chiara Pazzaglia – Avvenire, February 12, 2026

Atlante is one of those companies that represents Italy abroad: rooted in Casalecchio di Reno, near Bologna, yet globally oriented through its food import-export business—an activity that today requires not only expertise, but also the ability to interpret an increasingly complex landscape. At the helm is Natasha Linhart, CEO and founder, who for over thirty years has been building bridges between cultures and food markets. Her perspective offers a privileged view on geopolitical tensions that are now directly impacting the food we consume and export.

Linhart begins with a clear stance on tariffs. “They’re like a rollercoaster,” she says. “They protect no one—neither sellers nor buyers. They create distortions and instability. For us, every new tariff means rethinking supply chains and relationships.” The agreement between India and the European Union, widely welcomed, represents a major opportunity for Atlante: India is a young, agricultural, and fast-growing market. However, the global landscape shifts quickly. “Trump’s decision to significantly reduce tariffs towards India puts us at a disadvantage. We had already started engaging with producers, and then came the setback.”

For Linhart, the issue is structural. “The West has offshored production for decades and is now imposing tariffs on those same countries. It’s a contradiction that creates uncertainty.” This reinforces the need for diversification. “We cannot rely on a single market. Every agreement comes with different timelines and dynamics.” The impact of Covid and ongoing international tensions has made geopolitics a daily variable: “Anyone buying or selling needs to understand what is happening globally, every single day.”

Alongside technical expertise, Atlante has chosen to invest heavily in logistics. “Companies have responsibilities both when sourcing and when selling. I turned down a major business opportunity in Indonesia because the entrepreneur was operating under unacceptable working conditions.” The same approach applies to sustainability and product quality. In Vietnam, for example, Atlante monitors treatments and pesticide use, supporting farmers in aligning with European standards.

At the same time, Italian consumers are evolving. “There is a growing focus on health. Sugar consumption is declining, protein intake is rising, although the ‘high-protein’ trend is starting to stabilize. Consumption of eggs and white meat is increasing, but plant-based alternatives are also gaining traction.” The Greek yogurt market continues to grow at double-digit rates (+58.7% over two years), with Atlante importing 15–20 truckloads per week. “Younger generations are drinking less alcohol, partly due to stricter road regulations, but also because of a greater awareness of health.”

On the export side, Italy stands out for its diversity and quality. “We export a wide range of products: pasta, tomatoes, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, baked goods, sauces.” After years marked by raw material shortages, 2025 proved to be a year of abundance for several agricultural products. “The abundance of high-value products like olive oil should not simply translate into price reductions. We have invested in bringing extra virgin olive oil to markets such as Japan, Korea, and now China—markets that were previously less familiar with our regional supply chains. We have also worked closely with the foodservice sector to help end consumers understand the quality of Italian products.”

According to Linhart, however, a further step is needed: investing in gastronomic culture. “Abroad, Italian cuisine is too often represented by non-Italian chefs. Most Michelin-starred chefs are French. We need to invest much more in hospitality education and in promoting the presence of Italian chefs worldwide.”