FarmingDays: CIB 2024 tour closes in Veneto

FarmingDays 24, the CIB-Italian Biogas Consortium’s appointment at farms, the symbol of Biogasfattobene in Italy and of sustainable farming practices at the centre of the agroecology project Farming for Future, ended today in Veneto.
Hosting the hundreds of participants, agricultural entrepreneurs who are members of the Consortium, local citizens and farmers, was the Azienda Agricola Cazzola, a historical business in Salizzole (VR) and an example of agricultural and livestock activity of excellence. The Cazzola farm, chosen this year among the many virtuous realities of the CIB network, practises precision agriculture with minimal environmental impact that allows it to use less water for soil irrigation and, overall, fewer chemical products. A model also of animal welfare with a 4.0 barn equipped with new technology milking machines. Damiano Cazzola of Azienda Agricola Cazzola opened the proceedings of the Veneto leg of FarmingDays: “Welcoming the second stage of Farming Days is an important opportunity for us to enhance the link between agriculture and territory. A virtuous path that focuses on a sustainable agricultural model capable of protecting the environment and promoting collective wellbeing”. Also present in the morning was the Mayor of Salizzole, Angelo Campi, who greeted those present: “Azienda Agricola Cazzola represents a virtuous example for our territory. In Salizzole we are aware of the contribution that the primary sector can make to achieving environmental goals. It is essential that institutions commit to streamlining bureaucratic procedures, in line with many examples in Europe, so as not to risk losing precious opportunities and falling behind in a strategic sector for the future.”
Ample space was dedicated to an in-depth look at the many projects of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRP) dedicated to agroecological transition. Particular focus was given to the long-awaited decree on ecological practices, a measure that envisages investments amounting to 193 million euros, aimed at promoting the spread of agroecological and sustainable practices in the agricultural sector.
“In recent months, a regulatory framework has been defined that favours investments in the primary sector and in bioenergy. It is now essential to make these measures known first and foremost within the agricultural world, also through days like today’s. The new measures on the sustainability of plants, the minimum guaranteed price mechanism and the RES 2 decree are some of the in-depth topics on which we immediately found high interest. For many of the measures we are waiting for the GSE’s application rules, while on others we are starting their first application phase; it is therefore important to exchange views with the territories in order to be able to gather ideas that can be submitted to the institutions,” says Gattoni, who continues: “Turning to the relationship with the institutions, I believe that it is crucial to speed up the approval process for pending measures as well as for the authorisation of the conversion of existing and new plants in order to allow as many companies as possible to adhere to the new support mechanisms. The time factor plays a strategic role here, as we are fast approaching 2026, the closing date of the window offered by the NRP. Not only that, but good adherence to the other mechanisms will also derive in part from choices linked to the PNRR measures. For this reason, the update provided by Dr. Penna was important, as it helped us to frame the measures in favour of the primary sector and the various related deadlines well, and reassured us of the common intention to accelerate.”