With the enactment of the budget law effective January 1, 2018 (LAW Dec. 27, 2017, No. 205), Food Districts are established.
The important measure, which reforms the provision in Article 13 of Legislative Decree No. 228 of May 18, 2001 (the so-called "orientation law"), is aimed at strengthening support for local forms of organization. In particular, the purposes of promoting territorial development, cohesion and social inclusion, encouraging the integration of activities characterized by territorial proximity, guaranteeing food safety, decreasing the environmental impact of production, reducing food waste and safeguarding the territory and rural landscape through agricultural and agrifood activities are identified. In addition in order to enhance the full integration between business activities, it is allowed to sell agricultural products, including manipulated or processed, ready for consumption, through the use of mobile structures in the availability of the agricultural enterprise, including in itinerant mode on public or private areas.
To support the creation and consolidation of such districts, €5 million was allocated for the year 2018 and €10 million from the year 2019.
According to Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies Maurizio Martina, this is a "real promotion of an initiative that also complements the latest legislative changes introduced with the law for small municipalities." In Italy there are already more than 60 districts recognized by the regions, with some established experiences that represent a true model. The first was the Maremma district, which has contributed to the revitalization of a "minor" area of Tuscany such as the Maremma through a Development Plan focused on agriculture, particularly wine production and quality livestock farming.
The national presentation of the Food Districts was held in Bergamo at the Province's Spazio Viterbi on Monday, January 22. Speakers included:
- Matteo Rossi, President of the Province of Bergamo
- Alessandro Apolito, Director of Supply Chain and District Policies - Ministry of Agricultural Policy
- Daniela Toccaceli, Director of GAIA, Center for the Study of the Economic Organization of Agriculture and Rural Development - Georgofili Academy of Florence
- Claudio Bonfanti, vice president of the Bio-district of Social Farming in Bergamo, Italy.
- Andrea Falappi, president of the Milan Agricultural District
- Roberta Garibaldi, Professor of Marketing and tourist management - University of Bergamo
USEFUL REFERENCES:
LAW Dec. 27, 2017, no. 205 - paragraph 499(here)
Food Districts Presentation, Mipaaf(Food Districts_national presentation)
Video presentation Alessandro Apolito, Mipaaf(here)
