The popular campaign forpeasant agriculture, with the support of GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade), renews its requests for a law for the protection and promotion of agroecology on a local scale. Waiting to see the promises made by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte materialized in the Official Gazette. In line, among other things, with the bill signed by the deputy Sara Cunial, in the referent to the Agriculture Commission of the Chamber. The new agriculture minister Teresa Bellanova has the task of implementing the guidelines defined.
AssoRurale and GIFT call Giuseppe Conte
AssoRural, the Italian Rural Association, on 28.8.19 last sent its press release to Giuseppe Conte. In the wake of the proposals to the new government formulated by GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade).
'We do not want a 'minister of peasant agriculture' - even if we would like a government to realize that the agricultural system in Italy is complex, diversified and multiple - but a minister who is not the secretary of a party secretary or who confuse agriculture with tourism. A department manager who spends more time listening to what is happening in the countryside, recognizing the diversity of agricultural models and the evident growing advantage of agroecological ones based on work, rather than on a mountain of investments that are difficult to recover. [...]
We demand justice. Public funds are equally redistributed by rewarding work, social and environmental sustainability and not hectares. What need is there to give millions of euros to companies that have invoiced tens of millions of euros and live off contracting and seasonal work (often illegal to the point of slavery)? '
Giuseppe Conte, on 3.9.19, found the demands of peasant agriculture. With a specific, albeit synthetic, reference, in the twenty-ninth point of the government program, to eco-agriculture on a local scale:
'It is necessary [...] adopt the tools necessary to preserve traditional and organic crops, protecting production peculiarities and specificities, as well as peasant agriculture in the so-called marginal areas'
Law for peasant agriculture, the bill signed by the Hon. Sara Cunial
On 6.5.19 the Hon. Sara Cunial presented to the Chamber of Deputies a draft law-framework for the safeguarding and promotion of small-scale agroecology, highlighting its favorable and widespread social impact on the territories. In the wake of the shares that have already taken place in previous legislatures - most recently, on the proposal of 'framework law on peasant agriculture'(AC 2025, XVII legislature) - without however reaching the expected result.
The bill, Provisions on peasant agriculture (AC 1825), was entrusted in the referent to the Agriculture Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, on 21.8.19. Still waiting to be included in the calendar, for an examination that will have to be as careful as it is swift. After 10 years of empty political promises.
La Campesina Via and the UN Declarationfor the rights of farmers and other people working in rural areas', adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 19.11.18, are appropriately mentioned in the Cunial bill. With the aim of recalling the values associated with this type of production, in their historical, cultural and social implications. And affirm their rights, on the basis of a declaration of principles that must also be implemented in terms of concrete access to agricultural policies. Referring to the Common Agricultural Policy but also to the state aid, as well as regional and local measures, which still marginalize small-scale agriculture such as the organic sector.
'A peasant farmer is anyone who, individually or in association with other peasant farmers:
a) directly leads the fund through a majority contribution of work compared to other possible forms of employment or collaboration and makes use of the work of his family members. The contribution of seasonal workers and employees is allowed within the limit of the regional tables of the work units relating to the various productions;
b) protects and promotes biodiversity through the use of conservative and sustainable agronomic practices capable of minimizing the alteration of the composition, structure and natural biological diversity of the soil […];
c) practice direct sales of primary and directly processed products, also in the premises of the family home, at farmers' markets, short chain circuits, local retailers and solidarity buying groups or through telematic platforms. In the case of sale of processed products, these are obtained with raw materials from the fund with the exception of products traditionally used for conservation purposes […];
d) if he practices breeding, this is to be understood as animals reared outdoors or grazed in the months in which it is accessible, with the exclusion of indoor farming methods and with intensive forms of fixed housing.
The peasant farmer it cannot grant to others, for any reason, the use of the land cultivated by it. ' (Cunial bill, article 2. See Note 1)
Cunial bill, text analysis
The draft law signed by Sara Cunial - in addition to being distinguished by the notion of 'peasant farmer' referred to above - it is divided as follows:
- establishment of the register peasant farmers (art.3),
- urban planning requirements, buildings and sanitary facilities of the premises intended for agricultural activity (art. 4). With provision for the type and quantity limits of the productions that can be admitted to the exceptions provided for by the so-called Hygiene Package (which provisions, it should be remembered, must be notified in advance to Brussels),
- transitional provisions on the general requirements applicable to premises and equipment intended for processing activities, labeling, direct sales and training in food hygiene (Article 5),
- possibility of use as a friend and free volunteer, in seasonal agricultural activities (art. 6). By persons who do not fall within the category referred to in art. 230 bis of the civil code (family business),
- recovery of uncultivated lands and abandoned (art. 7). The Regions are required to register and publish on the web, with three-year updates, uncultivated or abandoned land. So that peasant farmers can request the assignment, in view of the effective use,
- exemption from VAT of farmers who have achieved a turnover not exceeding 15.000 euros in the previous calendar year (or, in the case of starting a business, expect to achieve in the current year). (2) With regard to the sale of products originating from agricultural activity (Article 10).
Time Left instead some provisions contained in the Zaccagnini bill - 'Framework law on peasant agriculture’, AC 2025. Which introduced significant concessions for peasant farmers, such as:
- simplifications of charges on processing, transformation and sale of limited quantities of 'short chain' products (km0),
- tax relief. Reduction of at least 80% of taxes and duties imposed on commercial activities for the sale of agricultural and food products at zero kilometer from short supply chains and quality products, exemption from the tax on waste from farmers' markets,
- free use of seeds exchanged by farmers (albeit in compliance, as is obvious, with registered patents).
It is essential recognize the complexity of the Italian agricultural system. Which remains the first production sector in the country, by number of employees, and is in first place in Europe for added value, second after France for overall value. (3) Also characterized by the primacy in organic production and the extreme fragmentation of the productive fabric. Where a solidly capitalized and industrialized agriculture is accompanied by a small-scale one, in harmony with the socio-environmental context of reference. And it is to the latter that attention must now be paid, without further delay. Taking into account its value also in terms of employment effects and prevention of hydrogeological instability, thanks to the recovery of uncultivated land.
# Égalité!
Dario Dongo and Giulia Caddeo
Footnotes
(1) The Italian civil code, in article 2135, contemplates only the figure of the agricultural entrepreneur. The activity of which, however, is independent of the canons of agroecology and the conditions set out in the current proposal
(2) The Zaccagnini bill (XVII legislature, AC 2025) provided for an annual ceiling of 25000 euros
(3) ISTAT, statistics - report, trend of the agricultural economy 2018, page 7, https://www.istat.it/it/files//2019/05/Andamento-economia-agricola-2018.pdf
(4) Law Decree 12 July 2018, n. 86 https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2018/07/12/18G00113/sg
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
Graduated in law, master in Food, Law & Finance. You have explored the theme of green procurement and urban food policies in the International Cooperation and Peace sector of the City of Turin.
