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Territorial Bio-districts to boost organic production
Presentation

A bio-district is a geographical area where farmers, citizens, tourist operators, associations and public authorities enter into an agreement for the sustainable management of local resources, based on organic production and consumption (short food chain, purchasing groups, organic canteens in public offices and schools). In bio-districts, the promotion of organic produce is inextricably linked with the promotion of the land and its special characteristics so that it can fully realise its economic, social and cultural potential.

The first bio-district was launched in Italy in 2009 by the AIAB Associazione Italiana per l’Agricoltura Biologica (Italian Association for Organic Agriculture) in an area inside the National Park of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni. After 3 years, the Cilento bio-district now includes 30 municipalities, 400 enterprises, 20 restaurants and 10 tourist establishments that use local organic produce. Today it constitutes a permanent national and international workshop of culturally significant ideas and initiatives aimed at fair trade and local development founded on the organic production model.

Having seen the economic, environmental and social impact of the Cilento Biodistrict, the Associazione Italiana per l’Agricoltura Biologica, which launched this innovative practice, is actively engaged in promoting and coordinating bio-districts in other areas of the country. Bio-districts have been set up in Grecanico in the Calabria Region, Via Amerina and Forre in the Lazio Region, and Greve in Chianti in the Tuscany Region.

For over 20 years, the AIAB (Italian Association for Organic Agriculture), a non-profit organisation with more than 7000 members, has been promoting the organic model and the fair, sustainable and environmentally friendly management of land. The association also promotes the creation of Mediterranean and international bio-district networks and works closely with the European Union in campaigns to promote organic production.