The call for food aid for the poor is now underway, including the hard DOP cheeses Grana Padano, Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino Romano, for a total of over 14 million euros.
This was published by Agea, the Agency for agricultural disbursements together with Masaf, as part of the national food distribution programmes.
Pecorino Romano, in particular, we read in the note, is the most important protected denomination deriving from sheep's milk in the EU, produced only in Lazio, Sardinia and in the provinces of Grosseto (Tuscany).
The amount financed for this cheese has a value of approximately 3.3 million euros and the choice of the product in the Agea tender includes not only a "grating cheese" but also one to be consumed whole.
Agea explains that the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, in agreement with the Minister of Labor and Social Policies, adopts the annual food distribution program by 30 June of each year which identifies the types of products, the beneficiary charitable organizations as well as the methods of implementation.
The eligibility period for the expenses of the European Social Fund Plus began on 1 January 2024, which takes the place of the Fead fund in the 2021-2027 programming, for which a basket of approximately 56 million euros has already been formalised.
The products will be distributed, through the over 10 thousand local structures that join the fund, to approximately 2.8 million people in a state of poverty throughout the national territory.
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