Davines Group rewards the first two winners of 'The Good Farmer Award

For more than 20 years, the Davines Group has integrated sustainability and commitment to the environment into its business model by embarking on a path of regenerative growth. In the spirit of preserving biodiversity and researching new ingredients of natural origin for the formulation of its products, the group founded in 2021 in partnership with the Rodale Institute the European Regenerative Organic Center (EROC), the first training and research centre in Italy and Europe in the field of regenerative organic farming, which occupies a 17-hectare site adjacent to the Davines Group Village, in Parma.

As highlighted in its ambitious new environmental sustainability programme, '2030: Davines Group Towards Planet Regeneration', the Group plans to increase the number of ingredients from regenerative organic farming practices used in its formulas to at least 80 by 2030.

In 2024, EROC was awarded ROC - Regenerative Organic Certified®, a certification for food, textile fibres and personal care ingredients, which is a higher standard than organic, as it is also regenerative, and is only awarded if strict requirements including soil health, animal welfare and social equity are demonstrated.

"Three years ago we created EROC and this year an award dedicated to young farmers who adopt practices respectful of the soil, biodiversity and communities," comments Davide Bollati, president of the Davines Group. -. We received many nominations, with important and valuable projects. We believe that the stories of the two winners, Marta and Filippo, as well as being innovative and courageous, can also be of great inspiration to their peers and to support the ecological transition of the agricultural and food supply chains. We at Davines Group want to help propagate and develop agro-ecological farming practices such as those of Cascina Bagaggera and R.A.M. Radici in Moncalieri. This is a goal that we are pursuing with EROC and which this year has enabled us to support as many as 17 farms in the process of obtaining EROC certification'.

Edo Ronchi, president of Fondazione per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile, adds: 'Italian agriculture is facing a tough challenge. The negative effects of climate change - in 2023 floods and prolonged periods of drought caused significant damage to major national productions - the loss of soil fertility, and the rising cost of energy and raw materials impose an acceleration in the sector's path of ecological transition. We must reduce the use of intensive agricultural models - which lead to loss of biodiversity, excessive consumption of resources and high greenhouse gas emissions - and increase the use of agroecological practices and principles. This is the right way to improve agroecosystems, produce healthy, quality food and ensure farm resilience. We are delighted that the Davines Group is responsibly promoting this new development model and supporting the growth of a new generation of farmers. It is a model for other companies to follow".