BioDistricts: a territorial approach to organic farming in Italy

A BioDistrict is a geographical space with a natural vocation for organic agriculture. In such an area, the various actors, such as farmers, citizens, associations, and public administrations, define an agreement for the sustainable management of resources. They are focusing on organic production that involves all partners in the supply chain until consumption. The three pillars of a BioDistrict are: the organic supply chain, the productive chains and raising citizen awareness of organic products. . The objective is to highlight the territories that have chosen the organic model for their development. Local production generates income and helps stop depopulation. Today around 51 BioDistricts are spread throughout Italy.

The successes of the project are: more attention to the needs of local organic supply chains, more technical assistance and more benefit for local producers.

Given their multi-stakeholder nature, biodistricts have already proven capable of connecting different issues around shared objectives. Biodistricts facilitate the connection of farmers with training bodies and actors upstream of the supply chain and encourage communication along the supply chain.

They play an important role in facilitating and supporting the interactive model of innovation supported by the European Innovation Partnership. (EIP). And they are an added value in the Operational Groups.

For example, some biodistricts specifically aimed at providing qualified technical assistance to organic farmers.

In the cooperation initiatives of local producers, the BioDistricts often played the role of innovation intermediaries.

Contact: Alessandro Triantafyllidis – a.trianta@aiab.it

Author: Alberto Sturla

Other links: https://aiab.it/biodistretti/ https://biodistretto.net/