Agrotourism, energy and direct sales: how Italia leads Europe in agricultural added value
With the 2001 Orientation Law, promoted by Coldiretti, a start was made on multifunctionality, which broadened the boundaries of agricultural activity, enabling the creation of new employment and income in rural areas
Key points
A law that exponentially expanded the boundaries of agricultural activity and changed the face of Italian agriculture. It is the law for the orientation and modernisation of the agricultural sector that was passed on 18 May 2001, Minister of Agriculture Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio. It was strongly supported by Coldiretti, which celebrated its first 25 years.
Give way to agrotourism, direct sales and agro-energy
The fundamental function of the orientation law was to consider a series of activities such as agritourism, direct sales, processing of agricultural raw materials, production of green energy, but also services such as contracting, and care of public green areas 'activities connected to agricultural activity'. A recognition that is not just formal and that not only has given rise to the principle of the 'multifunctionality' of agriculture, but has also made it possible to extend the benefits provided by agricultural income to the earnings from these activities. Hence the strong development, in Italia and in the years to follow, of 'related activities'.
Turnover increased from 6.3 to 15 billion
"Since the approval of the Guidance Law to date," reminded Coldiretti, "the annual value of connected activities has increased by almost two and a half times, from 6.3 to about 15 billion, and has come to represent more than 1/5 of the total agricultural 'GDP'. Connected activities are also at the basis of the growth of agricultural added value, an aspect on which Italia now boasts the leadership in Europe, preceding even France. Without forgetting the fundamental propulsive effect that these activities have also had in terms of employment in rural areas.
In Italia 380 thousand multifunctional farms
According to a Coldiretti processing of Istat and Ismea data, there are 380 thousand farms with multifunctional activities in Italia today. The heaviest item is represented by the direct sale of agricultural products practised by 270 thousand companies, ahead of renewable energy production (around 60 thousand) and agritourism (over 26 thousand). But, albeit in smaller numbers, other activities such as the 3,400 educational farms have also taken on an important role and social significance.
Among the different Italian regions, the highest value of related activities is developed in Emilia Romagna with EUR 1.5 billion, ahead of Lombardy (EUR 1.4 billion) and Veneto (EUR 1.2 billion).
