25 million euros in favor of companies in the horticultural sector to counter the effects of the rise in energy prices in recent months, deriving from the current economic crisis generated by the framework of international instability due to the war between Ukraine and Russia. The draft decree, signed by the Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies Stefano Patuanelli, on the Intervention in support of the reduction was sent to the Offices of the Ministry of Regional Affairs for the acquisition of the agreement by the State-Regions Conference the higher energy costs incurred by horticultural companies, from the “Fund for the development and support of agricultural, fishing and aquaculture chains”.
The contribution, equal to 25 million euros, is granted, as a direct grant, to horticultural companies that have incurred in the period March-August 2022 costs higher by at least 30% compared to those incurred in the same period last year, for the management of production activities, essentially carried out in greenhouses, for the purchase of electricity, methane gas, LPG, diesel and biomass used for combustion in the company. The aim of the intervention is to safeguard the competitiveness of the sector and avoid closures or stoppages of production due to lack of liquidity, with significant impacts on employment.
According to Istat estimates, the measure should involve over 8 thousand horticultural companies, for a total of about 8814 hectares of greenhouse surfaces or with protected structures, which need both cooling and heating depending on the needs.