Organic Farming in Italy

Organic Farming in Italy ANTONIO COMPAGNONI, ROBERTO PINTON, RAFFAELE ZANOLI Contents 1

History and Development of Organic Farming .............................................................. 172

2

Organic Agriculture Organisations................................................................................ 172 2.1

Italy’s Certifying Bodies........................................................................................ 172

2.2

The Producer Organisations.................................................................................. 174

2.3

Federazione Italiana per l'Agricoltura Organica FIAO.............................................. 174

2.4

Biobank .............................................................................................................. 175

2.5

Centro Ecologico di Dimostrazione Agraria CEDA ................................................. 175

2.6

IFOAM Italia ........................................................................................................ 175

2.7

AgriBioMediterraneo............................................................................................. 176

3

Regional Distribution of Organic Farms and Land Use................................................... 176

4

National and Regional Legislation on Organic Farming in Italy /EU-Regulation 2092/91 .. 177

5

State Support for Organic Farming.............................................................................. 178

6

7

5.1

Interregional Programme for the Support of Organic Farming................................. 178

5.2

Agri-Environment Programmes ............................................................................. 178

5.3

Agenda 2000....................................................................................................... 178

The Market................................................................................................................ 179 6.1

Product Range..................................................................................................... 179

6.2

Prices and Economic Aspects ................................................................................ 180

6.3

The Consumers ................................................................................................... 180

6.4

Marketing Channels ............................................................................................. 181

Organic Farming and Rural Development..................................................................... 181 7.1

Organic Farm Holidays ......................................................................................... 181

7.2

Organic Farming in National Parks ........................................................................ 182

8

Research, Teaching and Training................................................................................. 182

9

Challenges ................................................................................................................. 183

10

The Authors............................................................................................................ 183

Compagnoni, Antonio; Roberto Pinton; Raffaele Zanoli: Organic Farming in Italy; http://www.organic-europe.net, 30.3.2000; © Stiftung Ökologie & Landbau (SÖL), Bad Dürkheim, Germany, 2000.

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1 History and Development of Organic Farming In Italy the earliest pioneering experiences in organic agriculture date back to the nineteen-sixties, but only took off in the nineteen-seventies, involving more and more farmers and consumers seeking an improved quality of life and consumption. During the mid eighties, the first local co-ordination agencies established the "Commissione Nazionale Cos'è Biologico" (National Commission for Organic Agriculture). Made up of representatives of organisations and consumers' associations from each Italian region, the Commission established the first nation-wide self-regulatory standards for organic farming. Once EU-Regulation 2092/91 was implemented, the numerous small associations of organic farmers and the producers and consumers committees operating in every region reorganised themselves, joining forces through mergers and a federative network. Today, there are nine officially recognised certification agencies operating in Italy. In the nineteen-nineties the organic sector in Italy showed one of the largest average annual growth rates in Europe. In 1998 organic farms numbered over 43.698 with about 788.070 thousand hectares (5.34% of total Italian cultivated land), and they are still growing at a fast rate (see http://www.biobank.it/it/bctabsau.html). Figure 1: Growth of Organically managed land in Italy 1993-1998 (source: Biobank)

• 2 2.1

Organic Agriculture Organisations Italy’s Certifying Bodies

In 1990 there were only four certifying-bodies/ producers’ associations in Italy. These were AIAB (http://www.aiab.it), Suolo e Salute, CCPB (http://www.ccpb.it) and the Biodynamic Association (http://www.demeter.net), which later gave rise to a certifying body named CODEX. AIAB was the largest association, grouping together many local-regional grassroots associations. Suolo e Salute (established in 1969) and the Biodynamic Association (es-


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tablished in 1947) were the historical cultural/producers’ groups, while CCPB is a cooperative (established in 1988) that supports co-operatives, processors and large co-op retailers. At the end of 1993, a year after the EU regulations on organic agriculture (http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/it/lif/dat/1991/it_391R2092.html) had come into force, the Italian Minister of Agriculture recognised three new organisations (A.M.A.B., AgriEcoBio and BioAgriCoop (http://www.bioagricoop.it), bringing the total number of certifying bodies up to seven. In December 1996, the Ministry of Agriculture (the competent authority) confirmed the registration of all certifying bodies (some of which had changed their names) except AgriEcoBio. This association did not conform to EN 45011 standards, and its place was taken over by two new bodies (QC&I and Ecocert (http://www.ecocert.be/ecoeng.html) both of whom were recognised and registered. In early 1999 another control body, BIOS, was recognised. AIAB, Bioagricoop and CCPB are IFOAM accredited. Table 1: Number of farms and hectares certified by individual certifying bodies 1998 (see also http://www.biobank.it/it/associazione.html) Name of organisation

Certified farms

Certified hectares

Associazione Italiana per l’Agricoltura Biologica, AIAB

9,687

159,104

Associazione Suolo e Salute

6,451

121,638

Bioagricoop

4,260

119,422

Consorzio per il Controllo dei Prodotti Biologici, CCPB

2,024

29,922

Codex

1,016

14,330


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Ecocert Italia

2,565

40,527

Istituto Mediterraneo di Certificazione, IMC

2,198

30,353

Q.C. & I.

2,917

49,617

n/a

n/a

BIOS

2.2

The Producer Organisations

All certifying bodies have a producer organisation associated with them. The aims of the producer organisations are different from those of the certifying bodies. Although some aim to provide technical guidance and extension services to organic farmers the majority are merely lobbying and cultural associations. In this sense, a more active role of the traditional (non-organic) farmers associations would be desirable. One unique regional producers’ association is PROBER http://www.greenplanet. net/prober (Associazione produttori biologici e biodinamici dell’ Emilia Romagna). The organisation includes producers from different certification bodies and has obtained the recognition from the regional government. It therefore has access to public funds to provide services to its members. The services it gives include technical extension, promotion and marketing, as well as demonstration, experimentation and research activities. It also lobbies for the sector at the regional level, including demands for more recognition and advantages for organic farming in many regional laws and programmes. 2.3

Federazione Italiana per l'Agricoltura Organica FIAO

FIAO (http://www.greenplanet.net/fiao/), founded in 1992, is the Federation of the principal organic and biodynamic producer and certifying organisations. FIAO represents the sector at a political level and informs the public about organic farming. Its members are • Acu (http://www.greenplanet.net/acu/home.html)


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• •

AgriEcoBio AIAB (http://www.aiab.it)

•

Amab

•

Assotrab

•

Bioagricoop (http://www.bioagricoop.it)

•

Biologico E'

•

Ccpb (http://www.ccpb.it/)

•

Colibrì

•

Demeter

• •

Imc Inab

•

Ub. (http://www.greenplanet.net/ub/home.html)

2.4

Biobank

The publisher Distilleria (http://www.biobank.it) informs consumers and producers about organic farming. Among others it publishes “Tutto Bio”, which in its sixth edition 2000, is a complete guide to organic and ecologically safe products. It also publishes the “biofax”, a two-weekly information service. Its Internet site http://www.biobank.it offers a wide range of information. 2.5

Centro Ecologico di Dimostrazione Agraria CEDA

CEDA (http://www.aiab.it/ceda/) promotes organic agriculture by providing documentation, demonstration and information. It was founded by AIAB in 1996. It organises courses and seminars (for example for organic advisors) and farm walks. It publishes a bulletin with its news and a weekly magazine for organic winegrowers. It plans to set up a network of organic demonstration farms. 2.6

IFOAM Italia

Since its inception the Italian organic movement has taken its share of responsibility in the international scene. More and more delegates participate in IFOAM (http://www.ifoam.org) conferences, events and activities; there is more involvement in the IFOAM European Union regional group, the AgriBioMediterraneo region (see below), the IFOAM accreditation programme, and the IFOAM Standards Committee. Today there are over thirty IFOAM member organisations in Italy. They effectively represent the whole of the Italian organic movement, ranging from control and certification bodies, producers’ and cultural associations, research institutes, co-operatives and traders. Most of them belong to the Italian co-ordination of IFOAM members (http://www.ifoam.it), which serves an important tool in uniting the movement and strengthening it at the national and international level.


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2.7

AgriBioMediterraneo

In order to develop stronger ties between the Italian and Mediterranean organic movements and IFOAM, Antonio Compagnoni of AIAB organised the first international conference on organic agriculture in the Mediterranean countries in 1990. In the Italian town of Vignola, representatives from the organic movements of Italy and the other Mediterranean countries successfully gathered together at "AgriBioMediterraneo". Many common problems were discussed, including issues on standards and certification (too often too central and north European centred) and markets (where the producers were often competing against each other because of the northern traders). The "missing" research on the specific problems of Mediterranean crops was also discussed with representatives from California (where similar problems arise with crops and climate). After the first Vignola Conference started a series of international AgriBioMediterraneo conferences (every year from 1991 to 1995) in different countries: Barcelona (Spain), Athens (Greece), Montpellier (France), Izmir (Turkey), Marseilles (France), Sicily (Italy). At the assembly in Bari in 1997 the IFOAM regional group AgriBioMediterraneo was established.

3 Regional Distribution of Organic Farms and Land Use Organic farms are not evenly distributed through Italy: two regions, Sicily and Sardinia, account for approximately 50% of Italy’s organic and in-conversion land area. Sicily is an interesting case. Here organic farming has developed at a very fast rate, with the number of farms increasing 2.5 times and land area almost doubling between 1993 and 1995. In comparison, the average rate of growth for the whole country was 123% and 126%, respectively, for the same period. In 1993, 50% of Sicily’s farmers were fruit growers, 30% grew cereals, and about the same proportion grew olive trees. The development in Sardinia is more recent, and mainly due to the application of EU Regulation 2078/92. When pastures were admitted to qualify for aid, many sheepgrazing pastures were converted into organic ones. Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna have experienced pioneering organic movements dating back to the early 1980s. Indeed, out of the nine certifying bodies five (AIAB, BioAgr iCert, Codex, CCPB, QC&I) are based in Emilia-Romagna or Tuscany. Olive trees are grown by 60% of Tuscany’s organic farmers, while cereals and fruit & vegetables prevail in Emilia-Romagna. Both regional governments have approved special laws after EU Regulations 2092/91 and 2078/92 to regulate and promote organic farming. Apulia in the South of Italy has also had a very recent growth, mainly due to policy support. Its main crops are durum wheat, olive oil and vegetables. For complete table including information on all the Italian regions see http://www.biobank.it/it/bctabsau.html.


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At the end of 1997, of the organically managed land, 46.9% was forage and pasture, 22.9% grains and cereals, 7.7% fruit and vegetables, 9.4% olives, 2.7% vine and 10.4% industrial crops. Figure 1: Land use in organic farming in 1997

Organic production in Italy (% of hectares) 10,4

45,416

2,7 9,4 7,7 22,9 fodder fruit & veget vine

cereals olive industrial crop

4

National and Regional Legislation on Organic Farming in Italy /EURegulation 2092/91 In Italy EU-Regulation 2092/91 (http://www.europa.eu.int/eur-lex/it/lif/dat/1991 /it_391R2092.html) has been fully operational since 1992. Nine certifying bodies are registered as certifying bodies under this regulation (see “Organisations” chapter). The Ministry of Agriculture is presently the competent authority. With the implementation of EU-Regulation 2092/91 criteria for the licensing of inspection bodies as well as specific criteria regarding the management and the procedures of the certification system, conforming to the EN 45011 standards were established. Still lacking, however, is a uniform national framework for inspections and certification, with a task force of full-time national inspectors to supervise the regional governments and certifying bodies. Also needed is a national logo. For 2000 an interregional programme for the support of organic agriculture is foreseen. As part of this programme, the supervision of the certifiers will be restructured. In the future supervision will be co-ordinated by the regional agriculture development agency of Tuscany in co-operation with all the other regional governments and the national ministry of agriculture.


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5 5.1

State Support for Organic Farming Interregional Programme for the Support of Organic Farming

The interregional programme for the support of organic farming (see above) with a total of 5 billion Lire (about 2.5 million Euro) includes support for the first nation-wide public information campaign (with about 3.3 billion lire or ca. 1.65 million Euro). The remaining money will be used toward a national school (Istituto Mancini FolignoUmbria) for organic agriculture, specialising mainly in the training of public servants from the ministries and the regions. A national database (http://www.biopuglia.iamb.it ) on organic agriculture at the research institute CIHEAM BARI (http://www.iamb.it/homeen.html) will be implemented. 5.2

Agri-Environment Programmes

General opinion holds that the Agri-Environmental programmes have had a positive influence on the conversion of farms. This is not entirely conclusive, however. In Italy both new adopters and existing organic farmers are eligible for grants, but at the national level only 50% of certified farms appears to have taken advantage of the Organic Aid Scheme. Many of the farmers consider the grants insufficient and are more interested in the substantial premium prices that are obtainable in the organic market. In some cases the costs of applying for the grant (time for filling in forms, transport costs to go into the regional government offices, etc.) is perceived to be higher than the monetary value of the grant itself. Nevertheless the boom in organic farms and agricultural land during the late nineteen-nineties has been broadly driven by the support policy under EUregulation 2078/92. It was implemented in most of the regions and gave - at least to extensive traditional farmers - a good incentive to convert to organic farming. Many regions have passed their own Agri-Environment programmes, but few regions apart from Emilia-Romagna, Marche, Tuscany and a few others provide an extra budget for organic farming apart from the 2078/92 aid. Each year, however, there is more investment of public funds at national, regional and local levels into organic agriculture research, experimentation, extension, dissemination, marketing and promotion. Increasingly, being an organic farmer or processor means a better chance of getting a development grant. 5.3

Agenda 2000

The previous management of EU-regulation 2078/92 and the scarcity of funds are negatively conditioning the implementation of the Agri-Environmental programmes provided by Agenda 2000. Many regions did not efficiently monitor the previous programme or they spent much of their financial resources on integrated agriculture/ integrated pest management measures, leaving little left over for organic agriculture support policies.


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There have also been some good developments: The region of Emilia-Romagna introduced a new measure on organic forage, under which organic farmers with organic animal husbandry can receive up to 450 Euro per hectare of forage.

6 The Market The economic value of the Italian organic market is estimated to be around 2 thousand billion lire (about 1 billion Euro). The growth trend is very strong - in the last four years it has never fallen below 20%. It is therefore no surprise that the big national companies and the Italian subsidiaries of multinational corporations have shown great interest in organic agriculture and food trade, launching new lines of organic products or taking over businesses operating in this sector. Many fairs and markets are now devoted to organic agriculture. The largest fair is held in Bologna in September (SANA, http://www.sana.it) Many national and local level markets are held throughout the country, mainly open air, from June to October. In some towns a market is held monthly or weekly, and is often associated with the traditional town market. 6.1

Product Range

Over a third of all Italian organic production is exported, mainly to other European countries, but also to the USA and Japan. Some of the products exported include: •

Fruit and vegetables (top-quality, owing to the favourable climatic conditions and the professional skill of the producers)

•

Extra virgin olive oil (olive trees have been grown in Italy since ancient times, and Italian olives offer a great variety of scents and flavours, ranging from the most delicate aroma to an intense, fruity bouquet)

•

Wine (with excellent award-winning products highly praised in the most important international wine events)

• •

Cheeses (ranging from the celebrated Parmigiano Reggiano to the rarest traditional specialities) Sauces, condiments and delicatessen from Italy’s rich culinary heritage

• •

Pasta (whole-wheat, white, either plain or with herbs or spices) Ice-cream (the Italian tradition in ice-cream making has a well-deserved fame)

•

Dried fruits

•

Industrial products

•

Grains and pulses


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Today consortia and trading companies increasingly plan production and crops together with single farms. To steer the growth of the organic segment safely, efficiently and with appropriate instruments considerable investments are necessary. This will ensure an increasingly larger choice of products on offer, a better service, guaranteed product quality, and the continuous monitoring of the evolution of consumer demands. This, in turn, will mean an improved planning of product availability for trading operators and for the consumers as well as lower prices and higher quality standards. 6.2

Prices and Economic Aspects

Premium prices for organic products are still relevant, especially at the retail level for processed imported goods. Imports are quite important for processed goods except for pasta and noodles (of which Italy is a net exporter) and fruit and vegetables. Imported milk has recently had a sharp increase. The prices paid for organic cereals are 30 to 40 per cent higher than for conventional crops. Prices for organic fruit and vegetables, though, vary according to the season and are at times comparable to the conventional ones. Because of the small-scale processing plants and inefficiencies in distribution channels, processed food often has very large premium prices. A three-year long economic analysis of organic and conventional arable farms has shown that, due to premium prices, organic farms are as profitable as comparable conventional farms. In addition, it has been shown that organic farming is not always more labour intensive. 6.3

The Consumers

The largest concentration of consumers buying organic products is in the northern regions of Italy, where the industrial and economic structure is stronger. Most of the organic products are however produced in the southern, more agriculturally oriented, and warmer part of the country. A survey carried out by the marketing magazine Largo Consumo has shown that seventy out of every hundred Italian consumers know about organic products. Forty of those consumers have purchased them, and four do so regularly (at least twice a week). The average consumer of organic products is between 30 and 45 years old, lives in a city or large town in the north of the country, has an average or higher than average education, and is in the upper middle or upper income bracket. In 1990 a referendum on pesticides was held. The results of this referendum show that there is a big, and so far untapped, market potential for organic products. Only slightly more than 43% of registered voters participated in the referendum, which consequently was considered void. However, the poll showed that 92% of those who voted - 18 million Italians (ca. 25 % of the population) - wished for stronger legislation on pesticides and their residues in foodstuffs. This could mean that 18 million consumers are in fa -


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vour of organic products. Nonetheless, with organic produce on the Italian food market being worth about 1.5%, this cannot be demonstrated. 6.4

Marketing Channels

1.1.1

Specialised Shops

There are about 850 shops in Italy that specialise in organic food, two thirds of which are located in the north of the country. They are mostly independent shops, smaller than 100 square metres. There are also, of course, larger outlets (between 200 and 500 square metres) and about fifty franchise shops of regional or nation-wide chains. 1.1.2

Organic Products in Supermarkets

A recent market poll revealed that organic foodstuff such as dairy products and packed foods are carried by 95% of Italian supermarkets. Organic vegetables, though, are available in only 19% of Italian supermarkets, mainly in the northern regions and in Tuscany. According to the same survey, if the average price of conventional products is 100, the organic equivalent tips the scales at 136. 1.1.3

Organic Catering

There are currently about a hundred organic restaurants, most of which are located in the northern and central regions and in the larger towns. For the greater part, they are vegetarian or macrobiotic restaurants. A very interesting and rapidly growing phenomenon is that of organic school cafeterias. Originating from a 1980s pilot project in the Cesena area, they now serve over 70,000 children from nursery to middle schools in metropolitan areas (Rome, Bologna, Turin, Padua) as well as in smaller towns.

7 7.1

Organic Farming and Rural Development Organic Farm Holidays

Italy has about 400 organic farms, with a higher concentration in Tuscany, offering environmentally friendly holidays. They range from a simple meal to weeklong stays, and may offer the possibility of joining in the farm work, or participating in traditional handicrafts workshops. AIAB, the country’s largest certifying body, is now setting the first Italian standards on eco-tourism. The standards will require organic holiday farms to comply with a set of rules that includes ecological practices and principles, and connection to the values of the local landscape and cultural heritage of a territory.


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7.2

Organic Farming in National Parks

In co-operation with environmental associations and the more enlightened local administrations, efforts have been made to promote organic farming within National Parks and in protected areas. Good results have been achieved, and in May 1999, AIAB (http://www.aiab.it) together with IFOAM (http://www.ifoam.org) and IUCN (http://www.iucn.org) successfully organised a workshop on organic agriculture, nature conservation and biodiversity. Over seventy experts from the organic and environmental movements gathered together and further developed the Vignola declaration and action plan (see http://www.ifoam.de/biodiversity).

8 Research, Teaching and Training If organic farming is to have the opportunity to continue developing it will require research, development and advice. In Italy this is still often completely absent. Organic research seriously suffers from a lack of funding. Generally, grants are the principal and most effective means of funding any public research. However, apart from some regional funds available under the 2078/92, virtually no funds, public or private, are actually allocated for research into organic farming systems. The few existing organic researchers either use funds originally allocated for relatively close topics (e.g. IPM, sustainable farming systems) or finance themselves. Research on organic farming takes place at the universities of Ancona and Perugia (specialising in economic and in marketing questions). The researchers involved in organic agriculture established a network within which their activities are co-ordinated, the “Gruppo di Ricerca in Agricoltura Biologica” http://www.greenplanet.net/grabit/home.html. In 1998 a book was published listing all ongoing and past organic farming research in Italy (Centro Documentazione Agricoltura Sostenibile and CIHEAM: Annuario 1998: Ricerca e Sperimentazione sulla Agricoltura Sostenibile in Italia. I-Cesena, 1998) In some regions the 2078/92 regulation provided funds for training of farmers and for demonstration activities (e.g. Emilia-Romagna). This allowed a useful for interchange between organic farmers within a region and with organic farmers from other regions in Europe. Some academic Masters’ level and specialisation courses are now being started. The Ministry of Agriculture has officially started a National School of Organic Farming. The first course was mainly geared toward technical advisors working in the regional government and public agricultural agencies. Issues particular to Mediterranean organic farming systems urgently need to be confronted. Otherwise insufficient research, education and extension may severely limit the future development of the organic sector in Italy.


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With the last budget bill the Italian Parliament approved a levy on the most environmentally hazardous pesticides. The monies will be collected in a fund to be used in research activities in organic and sustainable agriculture. 9

Challenges

•

To encourage the large number of traditional and extensive farmers to move into the organic market by implementing extension and marketing services and giving them the tools to get there successfully.

•

To fully grasp the great opportunity that the marriage between organic farming and traditional and regional products creates.

•

To keep the organic movement united to better face the institutions at national and international level and to take the chance to expand national production and consumption of organic products.

10 The Authors •

Antonio Compagnoni, AIAB, Assoziazione Italiana per l'Agricoltura Biologica, Via Strada Maggiore, I-41025 Bologna, Tel. 0039-051-272986, Fax 0039-051-232011 E-Mail: [email protected], Internet: http://www.aiab.it

•

Roberto Pinton, AIAB, Assoziazione Italiana per l'Agricoltura Biologica, Via Strada Maggiore, I-41025 Bologna, Tel. 0039-051-272986, Fax 0039-051-232011, E-Mail: [email protected], Internet: http://www.aiab.it

•

Professor Dr. Raffaele Zanoli, Dibiaga - Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Ancona, Via Brecce Bianche, I- 60131 Ancona, Tel. 0039-071-2204929, Fax 0039-071-2204858, E-Mail: [email protected]

© by Stiftung Ökologie & Landbau, 2000. All rights reserved. •

Bibliographical Reference Compagnoni, Antonio; Roberto Pinton; Raffaele Zanoli: Organic Farming in Italy. In: Steffi Graf / Helga Willer (Eds.): Organic Agriculture in Europe. Results of the Internet Project http://www.organic-europe.net, Co-funded by the EU-Commission, General Directorate Agriculture (GD Agri), SÖL- Sonderausgabe 75, Stiftung Ökologie & Landbau (SÖL), Bad Dürkheim, Germany, 2000.

•

Address of Editor of Internet Site Stiftung Ökologie & Landbau (SÖL), Weinstraße Süd 51, D-67098 Bad Dürkheim Tel. +49-(0)-6322-8666, Fax +49-(0)-6322-989701 E-Mail: [email protected], Internet: http://www.soel.de


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