Research and innovation are two themes identified in the “Italian Strategic Plan for the development of the organic system”. A decree initiating the public selection for the granting of contributions aimed at the development of projects for organic agriculture has been signed by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture (MIPAAFT). The total amount of resources available for research funding is 3,000,000 Euro.

“I feel very satisfied, it is an important step to start building a new sector strategy: the supply chain has requested several times the release of the provision, which has been standing still for a long time. The decree takes into account the indications proposed by all the stakeholders, in particularly foreseeing the participation, in all the project phases, of at least one organic holding, in order to facilitate the concrete application of the research results to the productive reality. The research in organic agriculture is fundamental to provide answers to a sector continuously growing both in terms of surfaces and turnover” declared the Undersecretary of State for Agricultural, Food, Forestry and Tourism Policies Franco Manzato, who also has the responsibility for the sector of organic farming.

Source: Mipaaft press Office http://www.sinab.it/node/21858