At the center of the maneuver is risk management and the enhancement of the agri-food supply chains and Italian gastronomy
Strengthening the agricultural, fishing and aquaculture supply chains, the creation of the National Mutual Fund to cover catastrophe risks and two Funds to support investments in capital goods and in the enhancement of PDO, PGI and TSG and excellence in catering and of Italian pastry, further implementation of resources for subsidized insurance, as well as a series of ad hoc interventions to promote the ecological and digital transition of businesses, encourage the entry of farmers under 40 into agriculture and young graduates in food and wine and hotel services : these are some of the main measures contained in the 2022 Budget Law definitively approved in the Chamber.
The funds destined to support and relaunch the agricultural sector reach 2 billion, an extraordinary figure that doubles the overall allocation of last year and which confirms the centrality of agriculture and the agri-food chain in the Government's political agenda.
“Compared to last year we have doubled the resources, going from 1 to 2 billion euros. We have insisted in particular on risk management and guaranteeing income for producers because we believe that the policies to support the agri-food sector must move more and more in this direction, together with a series of important measures aimed at supply chains, which represent a decisive sector. for our country, in production and economic terms, but also in terms of protection and safeguarding of the territory and landscape, with a view that is increasingly aimed at the process of ecological, environmental and social transition ", declared the Minister of Agricultural Policies food and forestry Stefano Patuanelli.
Particular attention is in fact paid to risk management, with the establishment of the national mutual fund, to support investments in capital goods and in the enhancement of DOP, IGP and TSG and of the excellence of Italian gastronomy and pastry, aiming to enhance the value of products with designation of origin and geographical indication and promoting Italian agri-food excellence.
Supply chain policies are also central, with the refinancing of the Fund for the competitiveness of supply chains and food districts, and the strengthening of some supply chains including that of white meat, beekeeping, medicinal plants, nuts and beer, thanks to the cut in excise duties. Important funds are also allocated to continue the implementation of the National Forestry Strategy and an important chapter is also added for PDO and PGI and organic wine producers to encourage the use of innovation in agriculture.
The Budget Law provides in particular:
Risk management
• 691,5 million euros up to 2027 for the establishment of a national mutual fund to cover catastrophic risks to agricultural production - caused by floods, frost or frost and drought - a significant innovation among risk management tools in agriculture ;
• 250 million euros (50 million annually from 2023 to 2027) for subsidized insurance, in order to strengthen the public contribution to the insurance instrument.
Tax and tax concessions
• 237 million euros, valid for 2023, for the IRPEF exemption of land and agricultural income relating to direct farmers and professional agricultural entrepreneurs registered in the agricultural pension;
• 74,5 million euros for support for animal husbandry by confirming also in 2022 the percentages of VAT compensation applicable to the sale of live cattle and pigs;
• 54 million euros in the three-year period 2022-2024 for the extension of the decontribution of agricultural entrepreneurs and direct farmers under 40;
• € 16 million for the reduction of excise duties for craft breweries that produce less than 60.000 hectoliters per year, in order to stimulate the recovery of production and the development of the chain connected to the brewing sector;
• Extension of the Green Bonus, for the three-year period 2022-2024, regarding the IRPEF deduction of 36% of the expenses incurred for the arrangements and care of the green.
Development of funds in the agri-food sector
• 160 million euros (80 million per year for 2022 and 2023) for the increase of the financial endowment of the Fund for the development and support of agricultural, fisheries and aquaculture sectors, of which 30 million for 2022 in favor the white meat and egg supply chain;
• 76 million euros for the establishment of two funds to support investments in capital goods and in the enhancement of PDO, PGI and TSG and the excellence of Italian catering and pastry, to which 20 million and 56 million euros respectively are allocated in the two-year period 2022-2023;
• 22,75 million euros (12,75 million for 2022 and 5 million per year for the two-year period 2023-204) for the Fund for the protection and relaunch of the beekeeping, brewing, hemp and nut sectors, of which:
* 7,75 million euros in 2022 for the beekeeping sector, in order to support national associations, pollination by means of bees and the practice of beekeeping and nomadism;
* 300 thousand euros per year for the production of hazelnuts;
• 10 million euros for the increase of the Fund for the competitiveness of agricultural sectors;
• 10 million euros for the financial strengthening of the durum wheat Fund;
• 4 million euros (2 million for each of the years 2022 and 2023) in favor of the Fund for the distribution of foodstuffs to the poor;
• 2 million euros for 2022 for the establishment of the Fund for the international enhancement of intangible agro-food and agro-forestry-pastoral assets declared intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO;
• € 1,5 million (€ 0,5 million annually from 2022 to 2024) for the establishment of the Fund for the development of organic aromatic and medicinal plant crops;
• 1 million euros for 2022 for the establishment of the Fund for the enhancement of traditional and certified agricultural products.
Measures to support investments
• 120 million euros for the financing of the “Food districts” measure;
• 80,5 million euros allocated to Ismea's activities for the granting of loans, structured finance operations and the granting of guarantees for loans in favor of agricultural and fishing entrepreneurs, and measures for female and youth entrepreneurship;
• 1 million euro for PDO, PGI and organic wine producers who invest in digital labeling systems, allowing for the reference via QRcode to institutional web pages dedicated to the cultural, tourist and rural promotion of the territories.
Protection and development of the forest heritage
• 420 million up to 2032 for the financing of the National Forest Strategy to which is added the Fund for the development of the mountains of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (100 million for 2022 and 200 million from 2023).
Defense of agricultural production
• Containment of Xylella:
* 15 million (5 million annually from 2022 to 2024) for research activities carried out by the CNR for the containment of Xylella;
* Authorization for the replanting of plants recognized as tolerant or resistant to Xylella, including plant species other than those that have been uprooted.
• Containment of the insect Ips typographus (bark beetle) in the Alpine territories already affected by the Vaia storm:
* 6 million euros (3 million per year for 2022-2023) for the establishment, at the Mipaaf, of a Fund aimed at the adoption of measures for the protection of the territory and for the prevention of phytosanitary infestations for the areas affected by bark beetle insect epidemic;
* definition of exceptional measures aimed at limiting the damage caused by the spread of the bark beetle insect;
• Protection of Italian cork through specific provisions and the establishment of a Fund for monitoring the Koreabus undatus insect (150 thousand euros for 2022).
Interventions for the protection and development of fishing
• 16 million euros in the two-year period 2022-2023 for the three-year fisheries plan (8 million) and for the national fisheries solidarity fund (8 million);
• 19 million euros in 2022 for the extension of the measure aimed at providing an all-inclusive daily allowance for compulsory and non-compulsory fishing stoppages to employees of companies engaged in sea fishing, including working members of small-scale fishing cooperatives;
• Extension of the CISOA to fisheries and small-scale fisheries workers;
• 4 million euros per year, starting from 2022, are allocated to the Port Authorities for the exercise and implementation of the set of institutional activities, in particular in the fishing sector, administration, management, supervision and control carried out in scope of functional dependence on the MIPAAF.
Various measures
• 7 million euros (3 million in 2022 and 4 million in 2023) for the establishment, at the Mipaaf, of a Fund to guarantee the functioning of the recently opened equestrian centers;
• 6 million euros (3 million per year for 2022-2023) for the establishment, at the Mipaaf, of a Fund aimed at compensating fur farms affected by the law that prohibits breeding, reproduction in captivity and the killing of minks, foxes, raccoon dogs and chinchillas and animals of any species used to obtain fur;
• Possibility of maintaining, for a maximum period of 3 years and under certain conditions, the status of agricultural entrepreneur for those who suffer the consequences of natural disasters and are unable to comply with the prevalence criterion referred to in Article 2135 of the Civil Code ;
• Measures aimed at ensuring the ordinary and extraordinary maintenance as well as the continuity and maintenance of the state of efficiency and functionality of the hydraulic works under the responsibility of EIPLI.
• Allocation of resources for:
* the activity of the staff of the Central Inspectorate for the protection of quality and the repression of fraud on agri-food products (ICQRF) of the Mipaaf, for the purpose of recognizing the specific professionalism required in carrying out checks, including by the judicial police, in the agri-food sector;
* the hires in SIN Spa for the supply of services and the development of the national agricultural information system (SIAN).
Horizontal measures of agricultural interest
• € 900 million up to 2027 (€ 240 million in 2022 and € 240 million in 2023, € 120 million annually up to 2026 and € 60 million in 2027) for the refinancing of the new Sabatini for productive investments for small and medium-sized enterprises;
• 240 million euros up to 2030 (15 million euros for 2022, 20 million for 2023, 25 million for 2024 and 30 million annually from 2025 to 2030) for the "Guarantee Fund for the construction of renewable energy communities ";
• 4.0 transition tax credit: extension until 2025 of the subsidy for investments in capital goods, research and development, ecological transition, technological innovation 4.0 and other innovative activities;
• Plastic tax and sugar tax: postponement of the measures to 1 January 2023.