"Let's grow Social Farming', over 1.2 million in 10 years from Confagricoltura's call for proposals

In ten years, the call on social agriculture promoted by Confagricoltura has disbursed 1.2 million in non-repayable funds, financing 33 projects, all monitored and fully operational, 728 presented in total over the years, and 29 scholarships, data that concretely confirm how the call, born in the aftermath of Law 141 of 18 August 2015 on 'Provisions on social agriculture', which established the first regulatory framework dedicated to the sector, is a tool capable of enhancing enterprises that combine innovation, sustainability and ethics, generating a positive impact on the territories.

The data emerged during the celebration at the organisation's headquarters in Rome of the first ten years of the 'Coltiviamo Agricoltura Sociale' call for proposals, with the awards ceremony sponsored by Masaf and with the contribution of Unioncamere. The initiatives over the years have mainly supported people with physical and mental disabilities and autism spectrum disorders; young people and minors in situations of educational hardship; immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers; fragile women and victims of violence.

The three winning projects in the ordinary section receive EUR 40,000 each, to which are added three scholarships for the Master's Course in Social Agriculture at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. There has been no lack of additions over time: in 2017, a project set in the areas of Central Italy affected by the 2016 earthquake was awarded a prize; since 2022, a special section on the management and redevelopment of public green areas has been established with a 20 thousand euro prize. And this year, for the tenth anniversary, there is an additional celebratory prize worth 20 thousand euros, devised by "Senior L'età della Saggezza Onlus" and awarded to an enterprise led by under-35s on the island of Ventotene (Ventotenemia Aps) for a project ("Lagricoltura non isola") aimed at developing socio-employment inclusion paths for young people and immigrants that envisages the planting of olive trees and capers in agricultural areas on the island, recovering the ancient practices introduced by the Bourbons at the end of the 18th century.

The main prizes went to Cascina Piccaluga, a historical winery active in wine production in the Langhe region, committed to sustainable farming practices - together with the Coop Sociale Progetto Emmaus -, with "8pari =" to produce a "good, clean and fair" wine, a project dedicated to people in fragile conditions, with mental health problems, refugees, single women with children or victims of violence.

In the 'ordinary' section, the 'Vivaio sociale: coltiviamo inclusione' (Social nursery: let's cultivate inclusion) project of the historic Tamaro company in Pozzuoli, a point of reference in the Phlegrean Fields area for floriculture, the production of native varieties, landscaping and environmental training, also won an award. This is an inclusive agriculture project that offers young people with disabilities the opportunity to grow, train and work in a welcoming environment in the midst of nature. Through the care of ornamental, fruit, vegetable and flower plants.