Natural Resources

Italy’s natural resources include marble, building stone, mercury, and potash, including some natural gas and crude oil. Over time, Italy has experienced changes in its natural resources, resulting in a history of mineral production and other valuable resources (Anderson, 2024). In the early 1970s, Italy was a major producer of pyrites, asbestos, fluorite, salt, lead, sulfur, aluminum, and zinc (Nangeroni, 2024). However, as the 1990s approached, Italy’s self-sufficiency declined, causing it to lose its top position in global production for these resources. In the 1930s, Italy witnessed natural gas and oil production in the Po Valley, followed by discoveries of oil in Sicily and the Abruzzo region (Wilkinson, 2018). This indicates that Italy’s most valuable natural resource is gas. Gas is commonly found in Puglia, Sicily, the northern plain, and Basilicata. The other natural resources in Italy include marble, construction stone, silkworms, and potash.

In addition, the natural resources that will be used in our product will be silkworms, marble, and crude oil. The nutritious potential of silkworms will put a great shine on our product creation. Silkworms are high in protein and essential amino acids, which can play a vital role in regulating materials. However, marble is a highly sought-after material in architecture, apparel, and building due to its visual appeal. Its resilience and inherent beauty support luxury markets while enhancing quality.

Figure 2: Agricultural  production Italy, 2023