MIPAAF: the food districts start

The Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies announces that the national presentation of the food districts was held today in Bergamo, a new instrument foreseen by the budget law to guarantee further resources and opportunities for the growth and revitalization of supply chains at national level and territories. The event, which was attended by the President of the Province of Bergamo Matteo Rossi, presented the lines of action for the new districts and some examples of already operational realities.

NEW DISTRICTS

In this perspective they are defined as food districts:

  • the quality of rural and agri-food districts already recognized or to be recognized;
  • districts located in urban or peri-urban areas characterized by a significant presence of agricultural activities aimed at environmental and social redevelopment of the areas;
  • districts characterized by the integration of agricultural activities and proximity activities.
  • The biological districts.

To guarantee the development of the whole territory and not just of the individual supply chains, the new Districts will operate through integrated territorial planning programs.

HOW DO THEY WORK

The recognition of the Districts is entrusted to the Regions and the Autonomous Provinces that provide to communicate it to the Mipaaf where the National Register of Food Districts is established, available on the Ministry website. 5 millions of euros have been allocated for 2018 and 10 millions for X-RNA and 2019 for the re-launch of the sector and for the support of the districts.

“We need a qualitative leap in the management of food policies to further develop our territories. This is why we strongly wanted a territorial planning and planning tool like the food districts. The experience of the districts - comments Minister Maurizio Martina - must be relaunched and strengthened, because to protect agricultural businesses, closer relationships must be built in the supply chains and services that look to the whole territory as a whole. It means bringing together businesses, citizens, associations, institutions to achieve common goals. It is an innovative choice, which allows our country to look at local development and landscape protection with a new approach. I am thinking of the theme of the relationship between cities and agriculture, of the closest collaboration between agricultural realities and local activities, starting from farmers' markets, from integration with tourism to organic districts, where sustainability becomes a lever of competitiveness even outside the borders. strictly agricultural. For the first time we make a clear choice of support, with certain and multi-year resources, which will help the development of the projects. In the national year of Italian food and after Expo, we put another central piece to give strength to the Made in Italy agri-food ”.

 

DISTRICTS, EXAMPLES AT NATIONAL LEVEL

RURAL DISTRICT OF MAREMMA

Born on the impetus of the Province of Grosseto in the 1996, just as the European Conference on Rural Development was held in Cork, with the accession of 28 Municipalities and all the companies in the area, the Maremma District took first place the objective of responding to the moment of crisis crossed by the territory, putting in place a totally new and ambitious "implementation method". In fact, in the first years a process of repositioning of agriculture was undertaken, aimed at combining quality and sustainability. Going beyond the sectoral boundaries, the entire local economic system has been involved in a new system, to offer an integrated basket of products and services related to the Maremma identity. The role of the Province, which managed the District control room, was fundamental, making it possible to coordinate the planning tools, from European funds to the planned negotiation. A model that has received great appreciation even beyond the boundaries of the province, becoming an example to imitate up to inspire the law of orientation that introduced in the 2001 the rural districts and the quality agri-food districts. In Maremma, the Rural District has given impulse and structure to a growth that has generated wealth and sustained the territory for two decades. At the end of the 2017, from the Rural District of the Maremma was born the Rural District of Southern Tuscany that embraces 65 Municipalities of the provinces of Livorno, Siena, Arezzo and Grosseto, that is a third of the surface of Tuscany and almost half of its agricultural area.

BIO-DISTRICT OF THE SOCIAL AGRICULTURE OF BERGAMO

Born in 2016, it involves 23 cooperatives and organic companies that work to promote the employment of disadvantaged people in agriculture (disabled, prisoners and former prisoners, young people with social problems, refugees). This is the first reality in Italy that combines both the bio and the social vocation at the district level. This project supports about ten Municipalities of Lombardy (including that of Bergamo) as well as the Province of Bergamo, the Consorzio Parco dei Colli, AIAB Lombardia and some important GAS. In addition to the development and promotion of organic and social agriculture, Biodistretto is committed to providing services to the biosocial companies of Bergamo, promoting environmentally friendly agriculture and enhancing the value of organic products and the culture of the territory, also supporting the implementation of food education projects. The cooperatives and the companies of the Bio District, which boast a great territorial tradition linked to organic farming with social purposes (among these: Biplano, Arete ', Ca' Al del Mans, Oikos, Cantiere verde, Castel Cerreto, Le Cinque Pertiche) , have set up a special Scientific Committee at the University of Bergamo, made up of technicians, experts in the field and university professors, in order to implement projects that are increasingly focused on the objectives set.

CONSORTIUM AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT OF MILAN-DAM

Born in 2011 as manager of the Rural District of Milan, it is established as a cooperative with 34 companies in Milan, the second agricultural municipality in Italy, of which 70% of the agricultural areas are cultivated for an area of ​​approximately 1700 ha. The companies are dedicated to different sectors (cereal, livestock and vegetable-gardening) sharing as a fundamental objective the conservation of agricultural activity through integration with the needs of the city, with specific reference to issues such as food sovereignty, environmental protection, recovery of tradition and defense of the territory. In particular, the DAM - which actively collaborates with local institutions - has been engaged in recent years in the marketing and enhancement of its products (they have had good results in large-scale distribution and collective catering, especially rice, vegetables and cheeses) and in participating to activities of service to the city. In addition to the maintenance management of the Cave Urban Park, specific actions were developed aimed at the recovery of the landscape, environment and biodiversity in the Expo 2015 Compensation project, carried out in partnership with the Municipality. The territorial development agreement with the Municipality of Milan, Metropolitan Cities and the Lombardy Region, aimed at strengthening the presence of agriculture, in collaboration with four other rural districts of the peri-urban area, should also be noted.

LOW BERGAMSCA-DABB AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT

Accredited by the Lombardy Region in the 2012, it is based in Spirano (BG), the leading municipality. It extends over an area of ​​42 Comuni of the Bergamo Plain, aggregating more than 100 subjects between farms and agri-food, research institutes, schools, banking institutes, trade associations, park authorities. The estimated turnover amounts to over 200 mln of euro. The District produces 6 of the 9 DOP cheese houses from Bergamo (Gorgonzola, Grana Padano, Taleggio, Quartirolo, Salva and Provolone), but also other cheeses of buffalo and goat quality, which have obtained prestigious awards worldwide. The sectors of processing of eggs, polenta and flour, meat and horticulture are also very developed. Also represented in the District are breweries, confectionery companies, saffron cultivation and Bergamasco black truffle. Main objectives of DABB projects: increase of company profitability through supply chain actions based on existing quality productions and new products; internationalization and marketing of products; environmental protection and eco-sustainable productions; promotion of integration between different subjects (companies, municipalities and schools) to enhance the territory.

MIPAAF: the food districts start