Organic and Sustainability Festival - Research, innovation, and local development for the future of agriculture

The first day, dedicated to dialogue between institutions, businesses, and academia, saw the participation of Nicoletta Maffini , president of AssoBio , and Maria Grazia Mammuccini , president of FederBio . Both spoke on behalf of their respective associations, emphasizing how organic represents a strategic production model and a tool for promoting environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The joint presence of all the major organic associations enriched the debate, strengthening the shared goal of promoting an innovative, transparent, and sustainable sector.

The opening day addressed key topics: the contribution of new technologies and applied research to organic supply chains, the impact of agroecological models on local areas and communities, and the relationship between nutrition, health, and social well-being. Experts, academics, and industry professionals offered an initial overview of the perspectives that will be explored in greater depth in the following days.

The Festival will continue with roundtable discussions, interactive workshops, guided tours of experimental farms, and student challenges, aimed at stimulating innovative projects for more sustainable universities and communities. The initiative offers a concrete opportunity for discussion and networking between businesses, associations, institutions, and academia, consolidating the role of organic farming as a driver for the sustainability of the national agri-food system.

"Despite the complex international context—between geopolitical tensions and instability—organic farming is currently showing better resilience than the agri-food sector as a whole. However, this doesn't mean the situation is rosy," says Nicoletta Maffini, president of AssoBio . " We need to reiterate our vision: organic farming represents the most concrete answer to sustainability. In Europe, there's increasing talk of regenerative agriculture, often without mentioning organic farming, but for us, regenerative agriculture is only organic: an agricultural model with precise rules, based on scientific evidence, and capable of restoring vitality to the land in just a few years. Soil managed with intensive practices is not healthy, and neither are the products derived from it. We are currently experiencing severe economic hardship: the average receipt in Italian supermarkets is €21–22 for around 13 products, less than €2 per item, a sign of very limited family resources. Poverty is now widespread, and since Covid, the situation has not improved. Despite the recent renewals of collective bargaining agreements, "With the decline in labor, consumers have lost purchasing power. Farmers, who are often not paid a fair price for their labor, are facing the same challenges as those faced by Italian retail companies and the processing companies represented by AssoBio. Margins in the sector are so low that, without true synergy, we risk losing everyone. Distribution and processing must create a win-win balance, where everyone gives up something to allow the system to sustain itself in a challenging economic environment. Therefore, meetings like this are crucial: they strengthen relationships between associations that bring common concerns to the Ministry and Europe. In a sector like ours, only a systemic approach can truly support the ecological transition."

"Organic farming is growing strongly. Since 2012, both acreage and consumption have been steadily increasing, and for the first time, in 2024, the percentage growth in consumption exceeded the percentage growth in organic acreage, " emphasizes Maria Grazia Mammuccini, President of FederBio . "A wealth of scientific evidence attests to the benefits of organic farming: encouraging its spread means protecting the health of the planet and people. The development of organic farming strengthens virtuous experiences such as organic districts, which innovate production and consumption models, consolidating a food community that safeguards its economic, social, and cultural value. However, there are also critical issues, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses. Greater bureaucratic simplification is needed, along with solutions to address the climate crisis and, above all, a fair price for both farmers and citizens. Today, with consumer prices rising by 24%, producer prices have in many cases plummeted: many farmers can no longer cope. We cannot continue to undercut production costs." Furthermore, significant investments in research and innovation are needed, coupled with coherent development policies, because the future of agriculture depends on agroecology. Data from the Agrofarma Observatory, which shows an 18% decline in synthetic pesticides and a 133% increase in natural active ingredients, demonstrate that many agroecological innovations are already widespread in conventional agriculture, as they are more effective and less susceptible to resistance. This is the paradox: while businesses are advancing toward the Green Deal's objectives, policymakers are slowing down. Going back now would be disastrous; we must continue the ecological transition of agriculture and food, also to protect future generations.

The Organic and Sustainability Festival is funded by the European Union through NextGenerationEU , through the Ministry of University and Research , within the PNRR