Peasant farming-the idea of wresting ‘patches of land’ from decay and neglect (or concrete), to grow ‘real foods’ according to nature, those ‘that taste different, like they used to’-is in everyone’s heart, ideally. But the People’s Campaign for Peasant Agriculture has been fighting since 2009 for a law that recognizes micro-small-scale realities in Italy and supports them with concrete measures. (1) But politicians of all colors, in ten years of talk, still have done nothing.
Micro-small-scale eco-agriculture, the opportunities to be seized
Compared to other European countries, Italy is distinguished by extremely fragmented agricultural production. For historical and geo-morphological reasons, which are confirmed by official statistical data. Coldiretti is the leading confederation in Europe in terms of number of members, in the face of a UAA (Utilized Agricultural Area) well below that of other member states. Yield per hectare is significantly higher than average, as are certified organic production and areas.
The Common Agricultural Policy(CAP), nevertheless, tends to favor large-scale, highly capitalized and mechanized production. With a view to supporting competition-which, moreover, is always unfair, given the costs of ‘Made in Europe‘ sustainability
and socio-health-environmental dumping ‘
extra-EU
‘
– on global markets.
Some room for maneuver
reside in state aid, which member countries can recognize with various measures just now undergoing public consultation
, in view of the 2021-2027 CAP. And it is on these measures that the political parties and the ‘
stakeholders
‘ should now focus, to facilitate micro and small farms that can implement ecological agricultural models, benefiting ecosystems and local communities.
L’
ecoagriculture
can express itself in, among other things, social and educational farms, urban gardens and urban beekeeping
, sharing and solidarity. And its particle diffusion constitutes excellent exercise in
food sovereignty
and care of green spaces, combating waste
and health. Lots of small ‘sun cities,’ without aspiring to social climbing, can unite people in the territories and perhaps even provide employment opportunities in equitable micro-businesses at ‘km0’.
The UN Declaration
‘
for the rights of
peasants
and other people working in rural areas’, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 19.11.18, served precisely to affirm these foundations of civilization. Which are rooted in basic human rights to food
and food sovereignty, to which also are dedicated some of the first SDGs (
Sustainable Development Goals
) on the UN 2030 agenda.
People’s campaign for peasant agriculture, 10 years of commitments
‘The agriculture of farmers
who are not entrepreneurs, much less industrialists of the land’ still remains in Italy ‘almost invisible to the gaze of the law, which does not recognize it as constitutionally different from the other (and even opposite, in its effects) and does not know how to listen to its voice.’ (2)
Thus in 2009 the organizers of a network of farmers’ associations-the People’s Campaign for Peasant Agriculture-announced their proposal. In the form of a petition, enacted into a bill in 2010. Italy was then overwhelmed by the ‘Spread‘ cyclone and the executive led by Mario Monti dropped the initiative. The next legislature saw several proposals flourish, all of which fell along with the government of Paolo Gentiloni:
– ‘Guidelines for a framework law on peasant farming’, 10.10.13,
– not one but four bills, none of which were brought to fruition, between 2014 and 2015, (3)
– the outline of the ‘Framework Law on Peasant Agriculture,’ drafted in consultation with the Peasant Campaign and approved in the House Agriculture Committee on Dec. 13.17. Too bad only, at the end of the term.
On 2/14/19, the Farmers’ Campaign submitted a unified text to the current House of Representatives. On 2/25/19, one of its delegations was received by President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella to expound on the values of the rural reality and the need for an active garrison, for the enhancement of the territories. (4)
Framework law on peasant agriculture
The outline of the ‘
framework law
on peasant agriculture’ expresses, even better than previous proposals, the wishes of the People’s Campaign for Peasant Agriculture. Introduces the values and notions of food sovereignty, common good, agroecology, and access to land. And it identifies a number of concrete measures to promote these values. Brief follow-up analysis of the draft legislation considered in the Agriculture Committee on13.11.17 (AC 2025).
The structural features of farms are intimately linked to the characteristics of Italy’s predominantly mountainous and hilly terrain. Italy’s agricultural landscape is characterized by the widespread and parceled presence of small direct-to-farm farms and a few industrial macro-realities.
Peasant agriculture is situated in a context of plurality of agricultures (Art. 1.c). It goes beyond the concept of mere economic activity, performing a social function of land protection, custodianship of the earth as a common good of humanity, agricultural traditions and techniques, biodiversity and respect for ecosystems. For these reasons it needs special forms of support, incentive and protection. Starting with a legislative notion that describes and legally frames it.
‘Peasant farming’ refers to farms embedded in the local agrosystem and in harmony with the relevant ecosystem, which promote biodiversity and crop rotation. They are owned, rented or the like by farmers residing in the same municipality (Articles 2, 4), whose activity is carried out mainly as direct or family labor or in associated forms for self-consumption, direct and local sale of products excluding large-scale industrial processes. They can form into consortia and cooperatives (Art. 2(a-e).
Environmental impact of activities plays a crucial role in the definition of a peasant farm. According to nature, production must comply with the requirements set forth in the organic system. Also excluding ultra-processed foods from production fates (Articles 4 and 17).
Farms so identified are registered free of charge in the register of ‘peasant farms’ (Art. 4).
Framework law, facilities and incentives
The simplification of standards relates to the processing, transformation and sale of limited quantities of short chain and locally produced products. There is also a waiver ‘from the labeling requirements for farm products, provided that the producer, the address of the place of production, the registration number, the ingredients, the portion of the ingredients from non-farm sources, the date of packaging and expiration date, and the words “product of peasant agriculture”‘ are clearly and explicitly stated (Art. 7(1) and (3), to be notified to Brussels under EU Reg. 1169/11).
Major tax incentives should encourage adherence to agro-eco-logical standards of peasant farms. Thus the recovery and protection of soils with respect to extreme weather phenomena, the contribution to climate change mitigation with negative carbon footprint crops, but also the revitalization of local supply chain economies and employment. Taxes and fees on commercial activities selling agricultural and food products at km0 should be reduced by no less than 80 percent (Art. 8), and farmers’ markets that do not produce waste should be exempted from taxation (Art. 10 paragraph 3). With priority access to local markets and free establishment of regular farmers’ markets. And opportunity to practice rural hospitality (Art. 11).
Design and urban planning constraints should be abolished for the construction of barns, stables, greenhouses and other outbuildings intended for peasant farming, as well as for the reconstruction of pre-existing earth, wood and dry-stone structures (Art. 12). Additional benefits relate to reductions in social security and welfare contributions, with further reductions on marginal lands and depressed areas. Provision is made for free veterinary and agronomic services and home visits, free food health checks, and assistance with intercurrent relations with the public administration (Art. 14).
Value-added tax should be excluded within 25,000 euros annually (subject to verification of EU dictates), with the option of issuing simplified sales receipts. Exemption from the requirement to register with the chamber of commerce, industry, handicrafts and agriculture for access to public funding. Energy concessions and reductions and for carrying out activities in mountainous and disadvantaged areas (Art. 15). Other concessions concern the construction of green building structures (Art. 17).
Specific measures to restore uncultivated and abandoned land are then provided, with a view to encouraging its repopulation (Art. 6).
Seeds and genetic material should be allowed to be freely used by farmers, who should be involved in decision-making processes on issues related to their use and conservation (Article 9). An excellent example of legislative technique in the service of protecting environmental resources and biodiversity, and a demonstration of keen environmental sensitivity that enables people to devise alternative living and development systems to the dominant model.
The Campaign Doesn’t Stop
New signs of interest were received from the current chairman of the Agriculture Committee in the House of Representatives, Hon. Filippo Gallinella (M5S). And also by Congresswoman Sara Cunial (recently expelled from the 5 Star Movement), who has indicated her intention to submit her own bill on these issues. Time is running out, it is time to debate the proposed framework law in the courtroom and define its
legislative process
.
The Peasant Campaign always maintains a keen interest in affirming in Italy, too, the criteria proclaimed in the ‘UN Declaration for the Rights of Farmers and Other Persons Working in Rural Areas‘. The last meetings took place at the University of Perugia, on 10.5.19, and at the headquarters of the Comizio agrario di Mondovì, on 11.5.19.
Dario Dongo and Giulia Caddeo
Notes
(1)
https://www.agricolturacontadina.org/
(2) Passage from the Peasant Campaign press release (2009) in ‘The People’s Campaign for Peasant Agriculture and Proposals for a Protection Law, Isabella Giunta ,
Agriregionieuropa year 12 no. 45, Jun 2016
(3) The bills lapsed with the previous legislature, in chronological order:
– ‘Framework law on peasant agriculture’, 30.1.14,
– ‘interventions for the support and promotion of peasant farming’, 26.2.14,
– ‘Norms for the protection of land, recovery and development of abandoned farmland and support of peasant farming activities’, 5.3.15,
– ‘Provisions for the identification, recovery and use of abandoned farmland and interventions in favor of agriculture and mountainous areas, 12.10.15
(4)
https://www.agricolturacontadina.org/ecco-il-video-integrale-della-presentazione-alla-camera/
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.
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