An anonymous ‘little hand’ at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (Masaf) is trying to boycott subsidies for conversion to organic, in the National Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027.
However, experts from a network of associations promoting the ecological transition in agriculture (1) have uncovered the shameful deception and are calling on Minister Francesco Lollobrigida to remedy it immediately in an open letter (All.). #CleanSpades.
1) CAP 2023-2027, National Strategic Plan. Foreword
The National Strategic Plan (NSP ) for the implementation of the CAP 2023-2027, it will be recalled, was presented at the time by former minister Stefano Patuanelli. On the directions of Coldiretti’s ‘boss of bosses,’ according to Vincenzo Gesmundo himself. (2) It is not surprising, then, that the €2.8 billion in funding dedicated to M2C1(Sustainable Agriculture) was mainly for the construction of ‘agri’-solar parks (€1.5 billion), as well as for logistics (€0.8 billion) and ‘innovation and mechanization’ (€0.5 billion).
The European Commission had therefore rejected this plan, also noting its ‘lack of transparency‘. In addition to the lack of resources for small farmers (although 84 percent of Italian farms are sole proprietorships, 60.5 percent with no employees. See footnote 3), young people and disadvantaged rural areas. (4) Minister Francesco Lollobrigida thus had to run for cover, to correct the abominations of his predecessor and finally gather approval from Brussels, 2.12.22. (5)
2) Boycott of conversion to organic farming.
Minister Francis Lollobrigida, however, could hardly have imagined the infidelity of some wicked officials in his department. Indeed, an ‘anonymous little hand’ altered a few words-in a 3,654-page document, which is precisely the just-approved version of the National Strategic Plan for the CAP 2023-2027 (6)-to block funding for the conversion of agriculture to the organic system. In defiance of policy objectives agreed upon at the EU level.
The diabolical ploy alters the eligibility criteria for Organic funding for SRA Action 29.1(Conversion to Organic Agriculture). By requiring farms that intend to access funding for conversion to organic (resources permitting, from 2023 onward) to notify by Dec. 31, 2022-that is, tomorrow-the registration of areas ‘in conversion’ in the control system, under penalty of forfeiture. One month ahead of the deadline of January 31 each year, which was prefixed in the previous version of the RDP (see All.).
3) Ecological transition in agriculture, the harm and the hoax
The ecological transition in agriculture, already affected by the damage of unchanged resources in favor of organic farming, thus suffers the further mockery of an impossible deadline, coincidentally not provided for so-called ‘integrated production’ (7,8).
Within a few weeks of the publication of an RDP whose reading takes 36 days (at a rate of 100 pages per day) farmers should instantly plan to convert one or more plots to organic farming.
Impossible, all the more so in those regions that have not yet opened their organic calls (Val d’Aosta, Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Bolzano Province, Tuscany, Umbria, Marche and Puglia).
4) Appeal to Minister Francesco Lollobrigida
It is unclear whether the alteration of the document is a material error or the material case of abuse of office (Criminal Code, Article 323. If anything, this issue will be further investigated in the appropriate forums).
In any case, it is imperative that Minister Francesco Lollobrigida order its immediate correction, providing congruous deadlines with respect to the opening of regional calls for organic farming.
Dario Dongo
ANNEX. Open letter to Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, 29.12.22
Notes
(1) The signatories of the open letter in Attachment:
– Mario Apicella, Biodistrict of Mount Amiata
– Maurizio Barsella, FLAICA – CUB of Florence and Province
– Marco Bertelli, Ecology and Alternative Agriculture Research Center
– Samuela Breschi, Objective Periphery Committee
– Matthew Carbone, Science of Administration and Circular Economy.
– Gianni Cavinato, Consumer Users Association
– Rosanna Crocini, Common Goods Alliance and AcquaBene Comune Pistoia e Valdinievole
– Michela Del Vecchio, Science of Administration and Circular Economy.
– Dario Dongo, Égalité
– Mauro Falcioni, Vitaly AgriBio
– Gianfranco Laccone, Agronomist
– Marco Mameli, Assotziu Consumadoris Sardigna
– Maurizio Mazzariol, AltragricolturaBio
– Michele Monetta, UP BIO Association
– Riccardo Piras, Cunfederazione Liberos Massaios e Pastores Sardos
– Eugenio Serravalle, Health Studies and Information Association
– Marco Tiberti, European Consumers Aps
– Sara Tomassini, Terre Marchigiane Organic District
– Lucia Vastano, Citizens for the Memory of Vajont.
(2) Dario Dongo. National pesticide action plan, sustainable agriculture and NRP. #CleanSpades. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 4.2.22
(3) Dario Dongo. Unfair trade practices in the agribusiness supply chain, the protections that are missing. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 26.4.21
(4) Dario Dongo. CAP, European Commission rejects Italy’s National Strategic Plan. #CleanSpades. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 14.4.22
(5) Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan 2023-2027. Ministry of Agriculture, National Sovereignty and Forestry https://www.reterurale.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/24037
(6) The document, altered in the parts indicated, was sent by Masaf executive Giuseppe Blasi to agricultural and consumer associations, 9.12.22
(7) Donato Ferrucci, Dario Dongo. Integrated agriculture and pesticide use, the data do not add up. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 28.1.19
(8) Dario Dongo, Donato Ferrucci. Sustainable agriculture, the ABC‘s. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 16.2.19
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
