- ROME - At Palazzo della Valle the award ceremony, in the presence of the Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida, of the winners of the seventh edition of the "Coltiviamo Agricoltura Sociale" competition, organized by Confagricoltura, Senior L'età della Saggezza Onlus and Reale Foundation, in collaboration with the Social Farms Network and the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
"An initiative that fills us with pride because it demonstrates how agriculture is not only the primary sector, but also capable of undertaking innovative paths of social redemption and welfare for the most fragile sections of the population. Without losing its dimension economic and entrepreneurial. An example of sustainability to be imitated" said the president of Confagricoltura, Massimiliano Giansanti.
"Masaf - remarked the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Francesco Lollobrigida - works to enhance social agriculture and to support the most fragile, young people, women and the disabled who, in this way, can be protagonists of a virtuous model and I thank Confagricoltura and the associated companies for having focused on social cohesion. In this way we can achieve the healthy goal of creating wealth and then redistributing it".
In addition to the regular commitment linked to the cultivation of the land and livestock, farms that carry out perfectly integrated social activities are growing: +250% in eight years (source: ISMEA 2020).
Social agriculture is practiced by 12.5% of the total agricultural enterprises;
the most widespread activities are educational farms and the job placement of fragile people (Agriculture Report100, Reale Mutua - Confagricoltura, 2022).
More than half invoice between 50 thousand and 1 million euros;
only 12% exceed one million.
Most are found in Northern Italy (41%), 38% in the South (including the islands) and 21% in the Center (Crea).
The following projects won the 2022 edition of "Coltiviamo Agricoltura Sociale" with 40,000 euros and a scholarship each for the "Master of Social Agriculture" at the University of Rome Tor Vergata:
- Archaeological Park of Pompeii, history of a rebirth - Di Landro Francesco farm (Naples - Salerno).
- Threads of Grass - The Farm of Bubi and Mimi (Cuneo).
- The Therapeutic Garden of Lu - Mirai Agricultural Company (Cagliari).
The special prize of 20,000 euros, included in favor of social cooperatives that deal with the management and redevelopment of public green areas, went to "Giardino in Movimento" - the Pane e Signore Social Agricultural Cooperative, of Genoa.
