Emilia Romagna Economy Observatory

Emilia-Romagna Economy

Emilia-Romagna is stepping up its support for agricultural businesses and its commitment to animal welfare

The Region has allocated over 35 million euros to the call for proposals to support structural investment, has reallocated 49 million for rural development, and has earmarked almost 50 million euros to support farms in mountainous areas and those facing natural handicaps

by Giorgia Colucci

15 July 2026

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Versione italiana

5' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - The Emilia-Romagna Region is increasingly strengthening its commitment to animal welfare and agriculture through various initiatives aimed at boosting investment in innovation and production quality. These range from nearly 35 million euros to fund all eligible applications under the call for proposals supporting structural investments, to nearly 49 million reallocated for rural development,

“Agriculture and the agri-food sector are one of the pillars of the Emilia-Romagna economy,” emphasised the Regional Councillor for Agriculture, Alessio Mammi, in a statement – ‘Supporting investment and sustaining the income of agricultural and agri-food businesses means ensuring food security, fostering innovation and promotion on international markets, whilst continuing to generate quality, income and economic and social value for local communities’.”

35 million for animal welfare

Among the most recent measures introduced by the Emilia-Romagna Region is the reallocation of 21 million euros from the 2023–2027 Rural Development Programme, aimed at supporting structural investments to improve the welfare of farm animals. These funds are in addition to the €14 million initially allocated under the call for proposals and, bringing the total package to almost €35 million, will enable all 142 eligible applications to be met. It will therefore fund measures such as the transition from fixed-stall to free-range housing, the provision of covered resting areas, ventilation and farrowing areas for the animals. “We want to invest in the quality of livestock farms, in sustainability and also in biosecurity,” explained the Regional Councillor for Agriculture, Alessio Mammi, in a video message. “We want to increase the number of free-range barns, which currently account for around 90 per cent of farms in our region, but we want to reach 100 per cent, because Emilia-Romagna is Italia’s ‘Food Valley’ and we want to become even more so thanks to the quality of our supply chains.”

In addition to this measure, there is a €5 million call for proposals to promote sustainable farming practices that prioritise animal welfare, also linked to the 2023–2027 Rural Development Programme. There are 98 eligible applications for support, representing an annual grant of approximately €955,000 and requiring an investment over a period of around five years. The initiatives covered by the call for proposals include, for example, the adoption of specific feeding plans tailored to the animals’ age and production stages, improved bedding management with mandatory record-keeping, an increase in space available per animal, and improved housing conditions. In addition, the scheme promotes outdoor access for animals, the use of dedicated exercise areas and the introduction of environmental enrichment materials. To continue this work, a new call for proposals worth €3 million is planned for 2027, with a required investment period of two years.

Agricultural businesses and rural development take centre stage

To increase the resources available to agricultural businesses, the Emilia-Romagna Region has reallocated a total of 49 million euros from the Rural Development Programme to advance the ranking lists of calls for proposals and support new investments in competitiveness, innovation, animal welfare, product quality and environmental protection. This decision – explains the Region – stems from the high level of participation by businesses in calls for proposals funded by European rural development funds. In fact, in the applications currently under review, with around €157 million available, the total value of applications submitted exceeds €512 million. This figure confirms the vitality of the agricultural and agri-food sector in Emilia-Romagna and the willingness of businesses to continue investing in innovation, improving the sustainability of production and strengthening their competitive edge.

This measure makes it possible to recover and reallocate approximately 43.7 million euros resulting from regional savings generated during the implementation of certain projects, as well as a further 5.3 million euros obtained by Emilia-Romagna through an increase in the national top-up allocation for rural development. Among the initiatives seeing an increase in their funding are productive investments to boost the competitiveness of agricultural holdings, which rise from 48.6 to over 63.2 million euros, and investments in animal welfare, which rise from 25.8 to almost 35 million euros, measures to prevent damage caused by wildlife, the promotion of quality schemes, the Operational Groups of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP Agri), advisory services for businesses and various agri-environmental measures.

Supporting mountain farming

The Emilia-Romagna Regional Government also pays particular attention to farms operating in the most disadvantaged areas, from the Apennine mountains to areas subject to natural constraints. To this end, it has earmarked almost 50 million euros to support them, through the 2026 calls for applications for compensatory allowances provided for under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023–2027. Specifically, the measure also activates the two main schemes for this year: support for mountain areas, with 31.5 million euros, and support for other areas with significant natural handicaps, with 17.5 million euros. These funds form part of a total allocation of over €144 million for the entire 2023–2027 and are intended to offset the difference in profitability compared with areas not subject to constraints and to ensure the maintenance of agricultural and livestock farming in the most vulnerable areas. Only in this way is it possible to combat the abandonment of inland and mountainous areas and to strengthen the local presence.

On the other hand, those who farm in the mountains contribute to the care and maintenance of the slopes, to the protection of the land, to water management, to combating the abandonment of inland areas, and to reducing the risk of hydrogeological instability. These are also the points that the Regional Councillor for Agriculture in Emilia-Romagna, Alessio Mammi, through the amendments tabled as part of the opinion on the future CAP 2028–2034, which were given the green light by the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels. The approved proposals thus recognise, among the priorities of the European Agricultural Policy, the ecosystem services provided by agricultural and forestry activities in mountainous regions and areas subject to natural constraints, as well as the prevention of natural hazards and water management, along with specific support measures for farmers who, through their work, contribute to the prevention of hydrogeological instability, the protection of the environment and the care of the land

A strategic area for the economy and identity

Agricultural businesses operating in areas such as the Apennines do not, in fact, merely produce food. Rather, they contribute to sustaining economic and social activity in rural areas and are crucial to preserving the regional balance. They hold communities together even in places where it is more difficult to run a business and invest, and which are at risk of depopulation. This wealth, explains the Region in a statement, means businesses, jobs, social support within our communities and a very strong cultural identity. One need only think of everything centred around Parmigiano Reggiano, but also of other sectors such as cheese-making in the Cesena Apennines, Parma ham in the hills and mountains of the Parma area, cured meats from Piacenza, and the wine produced in the ‘heroic’ vineyards tended by winegrowers in areas such as Modigliana (Forlì-Cesena), which was severely affected by the floods.

“The Apennines are a strategic resource for Emilia-Romagna ,” explained the Councillor. “The plains thrive when the mountains thrive, because territorial security, water management, environmental quality and economic development are closely linked. ‘Emilia-Romagna has already allocated a significant portion of its 2023–2027 Rural Development Programme funds – totalling over one billion euros – to these areas,’ the Councillor continued - ‘Mountainous and inland areas receive 36 per cent of the grants awarded, with enhanced compensatory allowances, higher premiums for young farmers setting up for the first time, and measures dedicated to maintaining agricultural and livestock farming activities in the most vulnerable areas.’