Italy

Farming in Italy has historically been an important sector, for both culture and economy. However, over the last five decades, the structure of the agriculture system went through deep changes: in the 50s it primarily catered for self consumption while, from the 60s onwards, it switched towards market needs and a quest for increasing modernization, industrialization and specialized productions. This was also linked with the economic boom, a sudden industrialization and the waves of internal migration which happened up to the 70s moving millions of people from south to north, from the rural areas to the cities. As farming changed, so did land management and its market.

Nowadays, Italy is the third country in Europe for agriculture productions, the first country in Europe for organic farmland and Italian export is led by “Made in Italy” food. But while all seems to sound good, Italian farming sector is facing challenging trends and a complete lack of government vision and governance. In this situation, the existence of small scale sustainable farmers which are the cornerstone of local and sustainable food production and the custodians of Italian food history and craft is under threat.