A public-private partnership in Archaeological Park of Pompei and three other experiences of social agriculture have been awarded the third edition of the tender "We cultivate Social Agriculture”. It is a growing sector, although far from agricultural promotion initiatives in the strict sense or promotional campaigns for genuine products. For the past seven years it has absorbed investments for 800 thousand euros. Confagricoltura, the non-profit organization "Senior l'età della Saggezza", the Reale Foundation, the Rete Fattorie Sociali and the University of Rome Tor Vergata are the promoters of the tender. They allocate economic resources and encourage farmers to take the path of social and work inclusion. In truth the numbers are already quite good. More than 15% of Italian farms are also educational farms with the employment, in particular, of the weakest subjects. More than half of them invoice between 50 and 1 million euros a year. Most are found in Northern Italy (41%), 38% in the South and 21% in the Centre. The main purpose is, in fact, the isocial inclusion that becomes economic value in the great circle of agricultural products. A form of agriculture that reveals stories of life and anguish that find satisfaction in contact with nature. Yet little is said about it even compared to programs of the PNRR.
What is meant by social agriculture
We are dealing with companies which, in addition to their regular commitment to cultivating the land and livestock, carry out social activities with a marked territorial projection. They welcome people without, however, losing their identity and interest in agricultural work. The four significant experiences of 2022 were awarded in Rome in an event in which the Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida also took part. The President of Confagricoltura, Massimiliano Giansanti he spoke of these experiences as actions di "social and welfare redemption for the most fragile sections of the population. An intuition that continues to bear fruit and an example of sustainability to be imitated”. After all, working the land also creates greater social cohesion. They open prospects for the integration of young people, women and immigrants into agriculture well beyond the rhetoric of food sovereignty. In these companies there is the opposite face to exploitation, illegal hiring and tent cities in the fertile plains. In Pompeii there was a synthesis of manual work and the enhancement of a natural heritage with great potential. “We did it– said the Director of the Archaeological Park Gabriel Zuchtriegell in the name of agriculture and archeology, pushing the territory towards respect and protection of the environment”. The partner was the Di Landro Francesco farm.
From the countryside to studies in Tor Vergata
The 40 euro prize plus a scholarship from the University of Rome Tor Vergata also went to the project The didactic and social farm of Bubi and Mimi, in Bene Vagienna, in the province of Cuneo. Here a place has been created where activities aimed at children and young people with psycho-social problems, disabilities or from difficult families are held. In Cagliari Lu's Therapeutic Garden – Mirai Farm it won because it created an oasis in the middle of nature, where women who are facing oncological problems have found work and serenity to take care of the environment and plant care. 20 euros was awarded to Il "garden in motion" at the Pellizzari Gardens in the center of Genoa. Children in difficulty are welcomed with the task of preparing the ground for planting plants. He's not wrong Angelo Santori, president of Senior The Age of Wisdom when he explains that " the four awarded projects strengthen and confirm the validity of our commitment to enhance agricultural initiatives attributable to solidarity between generations, employment and social-health assistance for the weakest subjects, the protection of civil rights and social inclusion in the areas rural“. It should only be added that politics should take greater account of and support these good practices. They help companies improve and make sense of the battle against all kinds of inequality. In the end it is a value of Made in Italy.
