The Minister of Agricultural, Food, Forestry and Tourism Policies Gian Marco Centinaio yesterday signed some important decrees that provide for the allocation of one million euros for the participation of Mipaaft in the 'Expo 2020 Dubai' event; the 'provisions for the protection and enhancement of biodiversity of agricultural and food interest' and the increase in the percentage to be allocated to the payment of the premium to young farmers, adjusting the eligibility for direct payments of woodland areas in rapid rotation to ensure a greater contrast to the spread of invasive alien species.
"We confirm the Ministry's attention to facilitate the generational change in agriculture and to counter the spread of invasive alien species to the protection of native species and environmental balance - underlines Minister Centinaio - The decree increases the percentage of the national ceiling to 2% direct payments to be allocated to finance the premium for young farmers, thus ensuring the streamlining of the related bureaucratic procedures by Agea and the regional paying agencies. Acacia saligna is also excluded from the species included in the definition of rapid rotation coppice, promptly adapting the national legislation to the list of species subject to restriction at European level, to protect the environmental balance of our country. The operating methods of the Fund for the protection of biodiversity of agricultural and food interest are then defined and the actions to protect biodiversity to be supported are identified; while with the allocation to Expo 2020 Dubai - he adds - we open ourselves to the agriculture of the future by promoting the Italian model in the agri-food field. This is a fundamental event to enhance the sector, which must increasingly go in the direction of technological development and sustainability. We work to the end for the good of the country and for the enhancement of our made in Italy ”, concludes Centinaio.