MIPAAF, Bellanova: “strategic organic for the life chain. Good practices for sector support from the ministry. Italy teaches school "
“The organic sector has grown well beyond the most optimistic forecasts and Italy is continuing to maintain an unconditional leadership at the European level. SANA was born 30 years ago, an absolute reference for Italian organic products, a leading event recognized internationally. There was great enthusiasm at the time, and the need was already clearly perceived to promote agriculture in harmony with nature, aimed at protecting biodiversity, air, soils and waters, while maintaining the possibility of a valid income from enterprise.
Enthusiasm that, looking at the numbers of this sector in our country, still lasts today and promises important, further goals ”.
Thus Minister Teresa Bellanova, who spoke this morning in video connection at the inauguration of SANA, the largest Italian organic fair.
“The Covid experience has placed safety, food health and correct information in the first place. Inalienable objectives, which highlighted the absolute strategic importance of our sector and the agri-food chain ”, underlined the Minister.
"Since 2016, with the National Strategic Plan, born on the occasion of EXPO Milan 2015 (the theme of the event was" Feeding the world "), Italy has achieved important objectives in the organic sector, first of all the establishment of canteens organic for all schools of all levels ”, recalled Bellanova. "And today the goal of increasing the 50% of the agricultural area cultivated organically between 2014 and 2020 has been practically reached (from 1.367.912 hectares in 2014 to 1.993.236 hectares in 2019) and, for the same years , an increase in turnover of the organic market by 30% ".
"For the organic canteens, I have just signed the decree, in agreement with the Regions, for the allocation of resources equal to 5 million, and so we will be able to guarantee quality food accessible to all our students", continued the Minister: "In addition to doing food education, because the girls and boys who learn to eat well with awareness are extraordinary communicators of healthy and healthy habits in their families and friends, at the same time we activate the local economy, because organic foods are provided from sustainable local businesses. Thus, with a single "move", we improve health, society, economy and the environment ".
Bellanova then informed about the development of the new national tender for research in organic agriculture worth 4 million and 200 thousand euros, also with the involvement of universities and research bodies with organic companies. “The hope is that numerous and innovative project proposals may arrive”.
"Now it is necessary to work to better organize the supply chain, and ensure that all the organic product obtained from that 15,8% of the Italian organic surface is appropriately valued on the market and above all rightly remunerated, and with this objective we are working on the criteria for using the fund established in the last financial year with an endowment of 20 million for the next 4 years ”, reiterated Bellanova.
Returning to solicit the approval of the single text on organic, stopped for more than two years in the Agriculture Commission in the Senate. “A proposal approved by a large majority by the Chamber, which constitutes an essential element to further contextualize and further relaunch Italian organic as a synonym of great qualitative excellence”, he concluded.