Social agriculture sees Italy at the forefront of the use of land as a tool for education and therapy, inclusion and integration.
In anticipation of MiPAAF guidelines aimed at disseminating this valuable resource for society and ecosystems, some food for thought is offered.
Social farming, history and functions
Refers to social agriculture with regard to a set of agricultural practices integrated with educational, social-health and employment (re)insertion activities, benefiting disadvantaged segments of the population or those at risk of marginalization, as well as children and youth.
The experiences gained in Italy as early as the 1960s, although not traceable to a unified model (in terms of type of organization, activities carried out, recipients and sources of funding), are always related to social and therapeutic functions. (1) Functions peculiar to family and cooperative or community farming models, that is, inspired by solidarity and mutualism. (2)
Social farming, law 141/2015
Law 18.8.15 no. 141 qualifies as social agriculture ‘the activities carried out by agricultural entrepreneurs referred to in Article 2135 of the Civil Code, in individual or associated form and by social cooperatives (…), aimed at achieving:
(a) social and labor insertion of workers with disabilities and disadvantaged workers‘, (EU Reg. 651/14, Article 2 points 3 and 4), ‘disadvantaged persons‘ (Law 8.11.91 No. 381, Article 4) and ‘minors of working age placed in social rehabilitation and support projects,
(b) social performance and service activities for local communities through the use of the tangible and intangible resources of agriculture to promote, accompany and implement actions aimed at the development of skills and abilities, social and labor inclusion, recreation and useful services for daily life,
(c) benefits and services that flank and support medical, psychological and rehabilitative therapies aimed at improving the health conditions and social, emotional and cognitive functions of the individuals concerned, including through the help of farmed animals and plant cultivation,
(d) projects aimed at environmental and food education, the preservation of biodiversity as well as the dissemination of knowledge of the territory through the organization of regionally recognized social and educational farms, such as initiatives for the reception and stay of pre-school children and people with social, physical and mental difficulties’ (Law 18.8.15 No. 141, Article 2. See footnote 3).
Law 141/2015, 6 years of limbo
In 2011, the National Forum for Social Farming began a journey to gain recognition of the value of such activities and encourage their dissemination. Law 141/2015 was a first milestone, which was followed by the establishment of the National Observatory on 1/26/17. (4)
However, 6 years after the law came into force, the Forum notes the extreme slowness in its implementation. Only in 2019 did MiPAAF publish the ministerial decrees required by law. And its guidelines are still awaited, although the social partners have already offered their input.
Social farming, period opportunities
Now more than ever, the concrete development of social agriculture could offer useful solutions to balance multiple needs, in a logic that goes beyond ‘multifunctionality’ and local welfare. Social farming in fact:
– offers concrete responses to current phenomena such as migration, inequality and social exclusion of fragile people, (5)
– has high potential in terms of social renewal, thanks to the conversion of property confiscated from the mafias into cooperative and solidarity-based activities, (6)
– can be proposed in this historical period as an antidote to psychological problems exacerbated by the ongoing crisis. Also offering employment opportunities to those who have lost their jobs. (7)
Social farming, the European limbo
9 years ago , the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) proposed to establish a European platform on social agriculture, so as to ‘create a stable European community of social agriculture practices, placing it in the common house of EU civil society organizations.’ (8)
However, the European Commission under Jean-Claude Juncker has neglected the social value of agriculture. As the toxic treaties(EU-Mercosur, especially) and substantial indifference to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Workers in Rural Areas, 19.11.18, have shown. (9)
Social farming, agroecology, peasant farming
Agroecology, in turn, was the subject of a specialFood & Agriculture Organization (FAO) Decalogue in 2019. The U.N. agency has recommended that its 194 member countries-and the European Union, which is also a member-to encourage and support small-scale farming systems as models of social innovation and solidarity as well as respect for ecosystems. (10) With a view to, among other things, contributing to the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in UN Agenda 2030.
The European Coordination of La Via Campesina (CEVS) — on the occasion of the International Day for Peasant Struggle, 4/17/21 — sent a heartfelt plea to policy-makers on the Old Continent for the survival of micro-farm enterprises. (11) Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski has partially responded to the aforementioned demands, assuming the introduction of thresholds to direct subsidies in the Common Agricultural Policy. (12) However, once again neglecting the ecological and social factors that characterize this approach.
Dario Dongo and Giulia Caddeo
Notes
(1) Pascale A., Italian Center for Development Psychology. Agriculture and mental health. Natural Theater. 9/15/07, https://www.teatronaturale.it/tracce/cultura/3931-agricoltura-and-salute-mentale-la-possibilita-di-vivere-all-aria-aperta-e-di-coltivare-la-terra-apporta-notevoli-benefici-oggi-le-fattorie-sociali-svolgono-un-ruolo-determinante.htm Francesco Di Iacovo. Social agriculture: when the countryside cultivates values (Franco Angeli, Milan, 2008)
(2) Agricultural work has many peculiarities that can help those whose identity has been lost or severely compromised. It in fact:
– brings several psychological benefits because the tasks to be performed are relatively simple and varied, are not repetitive, and promote emotional involvement through caring for animals and plants (co-therapy),
– allows people to participate in all stages of the process (from planting to harvesting, consumption, processing and sale) and follow the results of their efforts live,
– brings the individual directly into the economic dynamics of the company,
– makes it possible to adjust the work rhythms of people placed in propaedeutics to work, occupational therapy or occupational therapy, rehabilitation paths,
– responds to the need to convey a horizon of values centered on human life, which in contact with the earth finds an authentic dimension,
– Educates to respect nature and the environment.
Walking school of agriculture (2020). Social farming, regenerative welfare and local development in rural areas. https://scuolaambulantediagricolturasostenibile.wordpress.com/2021/04/10/agricoltura-sociale-welfare-rigenerativo-e-sviluppo-locale-nelle-aree-rurali/amp/
(3) Law 18.8.15, no. 141. Provisions on social agriculture. (15G00155) (OJ General Series No. 208, 08-09-2015)
(4) Law 141/2015, Article 7
(6) ‘Libera Terra,’ for example, is the brand name from the association ‘Libera,’ founded by Don Luigi Ciotti. It is used by a group of agricultural social cooperatives that have been given the property confiscated from the mafias. And it is the best-known brand of social agriculture, nationwide, thanks in part to the support of LegaCoop. V. https://www. liberaterra.it/it/, http://www.cooperareconliberaterra.it/filiera-responsabile-incontro-coop-alleanza-3-0-e-libera/
(7) Giorgia Canali. Coronavirus, now is the time to invest in social agriculture. The Press. 10.5.20 https://www.lastampa.it/economia/agricoltura/2020/05/10/news/coronavirus-adesso-e-arrivata-l-ora-di-investire-sull-agricoltura-sociale-1.38827732
(8) EESC. A first official recognition of social agriculture by European institutions. 6.6.12, https://www.eesc.europa.eu/it/documents/un-primo-riconoscimento-ufficiale-dellagricoltura-sociale-da-parte-delle-istituzioni-europee#downloads
(9) Dario Dongo. Farmers’ rights, UN Declaration. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade). 11/23/18, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/progresso/diritti-dei-contadini-dichiarazione-onu
(10) Dario Dongo, Camilla Fincardi. Agroecology, SDGs, salvation. FAO’s decalogue. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 12.4.20, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/progresso/agroecologia-sdgs-salvezza-il-decalogo-della-fao
(11) ECVC. Open letter for the International Day of Peasant Struggles, 17.4.21. Europe needs more farmers. https://www.eurovia.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/EN_17th_April-Open_letter-Europe_Needs_More_Farmers.pdf
(12) Natasha Foote. Agriculture Commissioner points finger at CAP for demise of small farms. Euractiv. 19.4.21, https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/agriculture-commissioner-points-finger-at-cap-for-demise-of-small-farms/
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.
