To take into account the most recent EU developments in the sector, the Italian House of Parliament has approved a new framework OF legislation, which is currently in the Senate for
its final debate and approval. The course, in addition to the presentation of the Organiko project and results reached so far, has supplied the most recent OF data published for Italy by
the Agriculture Ministry OF research institute SINAB; analyzed the contents of the new law, thanks to the video participation, during the whole training, of Alessandra Terrosi, MP who has coordinated the drafting of the new legislation in the House of Parliament; learned about IN.N.E.R’s OF biodistricts experiences. The training course has been organized in collaboration with IN.N.E.R and their sister organizations, the Cilento Biodistrict and AIAB Campania – the Campania regional branch of AIAB, the Italian OF Association, http://aiab.it/on October 1st:

The International Network of Eco Regions Association (IN.N.E.R) – http://biodistretto.net/ – was born on 12-14.12.2014 for the development of participative and sustainable territorial development. The objectives of organic participative territories, that initially signed their participation as funder members, are: the promotion of rural, environmental and social good practices, the preservation of common goods and collective rights, the enhancement of human skills and environmental heritage.                                                                                            Gennaro Maione, Mayor of Ceraso, welcomed participants expressing the gratitude of the Municipality for having organized the training course there: he reminded that the Cilento Biodistrict has been the first one in the EU and since its creation it helped developing the whole European biodistrict network, which, by now, is one of the European OF success stories.
Emilio Buonomo, President of the Cilento Biodistrict, thanked the Organiko project, stressing its relevance also for the biodistrict networks in the EU and offering the availability also for future joint initiatives.
Roberto Calabresi, Coordinator of Kyoto Club’s Agriculture and forests Working Group, introduced and illustrated the Life Organiko project, emphasizing, in view of the past month’s
heavy climate change effects on agriculture, the importance of OF and its contribution in adaptation and mitigation efforts, which need to be increased with a growing support by EU,
national and local institutions.
Francesco Giardina, SINAB – MIPAAF, (http://www.sinab.it/) – From the Agriculture Ministry’s National Information System on Organic Farming, presented the latest statistical data on the organic sector in Italy showing a growth of the organic cultivated area of approximately 1,800,000 hectares, with over 73,000 workers involved.
Giuliano D’Antonio presented a set of priorities, from the point of view of his organization, ICEA, Mediterrenean certifications, in organic certification practices.
Alessandra Terrosi went through the various articles of the new law, interacting with the other speakers and participants via video and publishing, right after the course, an article about it on her website: http://www.alessandraterrosi.it/videoconferenza-ceraso-sa-nel-parco-nazionale-del-cilento/
Salvatore Basile, IN.N.E.R President detailed its network’s presence and activities, in and outside Italy, stressing the new and very promising attention towards biodistricts, as well as the
increasing number of new biodistricts which offer perfect conditions for the OF growth. He gave his organisation’s availability to support the creation of biodistricts in Cyprus and to participate in Organiko events.

3rd_Organiko_TrainingCourse_Agenda_EN

CILENTO BIODISTRICT__INNER_ENG

SINAB_ENG