Piedmont invests in agriculture to protect excellence and involve new generations

Exporting Piedmont's excellence and brand, protecting the traditions of the regional economy, also through generational change. These are just some of the objectives of the Region, which has committed itself to supporting the agricultural sector through various initiatives. In addition to allocating various funds, from 2022 onwards it has recognised eight Food Districts, realities that favour the integration of environmental sustainability and the promotion of territories. "One of the engines of our region's agricultural economy is the promotion of quality Piedmontese food and wine products in Italy and abroad. The economic value generated by Piedmont's PDO and PGI food and wine chains is 1 billion and 716 million euro,' explained the councillor for Agriculture and Food, Marco Protopapa. 'The Region is committed to supporting protection consortia, agricultural associations and producers in their activities to promote agrifood excellence.

Agriculture is one of Piedmont's great assets, with a turnover of approximately 4.2 billion euro (2021 figures). Moreover, almost 47,000 farms operate in the sector, of which 3,215 adhere to the organic farming regime. This is how the junta of President Alberto Cirio launched the new programming of the Piedmont Rural Development Fund 2023-2027 (Rural Development Complement). This is 750 million euro of European funds for five years allocated to Piedmont by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry. Of the 756 million initially allocated, six were allocated to the Solidarity Fund for the Emilia-Romagna Region.

Giving continuity to the previous rural development programme 2014-2022, this year 'calls for tenders have been opened for agro-climatic-environmental interventions, for water management, beekeeping, and the innovation of farms and agro-industrial companies,' explained President Cirio and Councillor Protopapa. 'In total, more than 300 million euros of contributions have been allocated to farms, protection consortia, companies, and local authorities.

In detail, in 2023 the Piedmont Region allocated 315 million euro, over 40% of the total of the Rural Development Complement. This made it possible to activate 25 tenders out of the 50 planned for the five years of the plan, in favour of organisations, associations and municipalities. Of the total funding, 58.5 million went to integrated agriculture, 16 million to conversion and maintenance operations in the organic sector, 8 million to beekeepers and 2 million to precision agriculture. A large portion of the funds - 125 million - was instead dedicated to agro-climatic-environmental and animal welfare interventions, to address two of the sector's sustainability challenges.

A further 45 million have been earmarked to finance the 'youth package'. The call - which will close on 14 March 2024 - aims to support farmers aged between 18 and 40. "The aim is to incentivise the generational change in agriculture and to offer concrete help to young Piedmontese to start up a business and invest in business innovation," said Councillor Marco Protopapa. "The call integrates investments to improve the market competitiveness of new farms and increase the profitability of businesses with the measure for the initial establishment of young people.