Agricultural machinery: agreement between ASI and Confagricoltura to protect the historical heritage
From vehicle certification to the development of sustainable solutions, the agreement aims to build on a tradition that has helped transform the Italian landscape
From the preservation of historic agricultural vehicles to the search for solutions for more sustainable mobility: the Automotoclub Storico Italiano (ASI) and Confagricoltura are launching a partnership to preserve and promote a heritage that bears witness to one of Italy’s most profound economic and social transformations. The agreement sets out a programme of joint activities dedicated to the conservation of agricultural motoring heritage, the certification of historic vehicles and the development of sustainable solutions for agricultural transport.
The figures illustrate the extent of the profound transformation that took place in Italian agriculture in the post-war period: the number of tractors rose from around 56,000 in the early 1950s to over 300,000 in 1962. During the same period, the number of mechanically driven ploughs rose from around 48,000 to nearly 300,000. This growth profoundly altered the organisation of labour, the structure of agricultural enterprises and the role of agriculture in Italian society. These historic machines now bear witness to this evolution and document the technical and productive advances that accompanied the country’s modernisation. Their preservation offers an opportunity to keep alive the link with a pivotal period in Italian agricultural and industrial history, whilst highlighting the skills, culture and ingenuity of that era.
With this in mind, ASI and Confagricoltura will pool their respective expertise, showcasing the agricultural motor heritage preserved by Confagricoltura’s members and ASI’s historical and museum collection, whilst promoting the protection and understanding of its historical and cultural significance, so that it may be recognised and passed on to future generations. The collaboration will involve outreach and promotion activities, events and exhibitions, as well as initiatives to raise awareness amongst agricultural businesses regarding the importance of certifying historic vehicles. ASI will make the expertise of its Agricultural and Industrial Machinery Committee available to Confagricoltura, providing support throughout the certification process and issuing, upon request and in accordance with the requirements set out in its regulations, certificates of historicity and authenticity for vehicles of particular significance.
