Organic agriculture has been developing rapidly in recent years in Europe, particularly in Italy. About 23.6% of the lands in Europe are organically managed, while in Italy almost one million hectares are involved in organic agriculture (Willer and Yussefi, 2001) with an almost 50% growth rate of per-capita spending from 1997 to 2000. The EC Regulation 1804/99 regarding organic livestock standards was made into law by the Italian Government in August 2000. In conjunction with the Dept. of Agriculture (ARUSIA) of Umbria (a region in Central Italy), a survey was carried out on a sample of organic (or about to be organic) sheep farms. The aim was to investigate the real possibility of converting the traditional Umbrian sheep farming system to an organic one, with particular attention paid to the interests of the herdsmen. The sample group was selected from among the Umbrian sheep farms which were already certified as organic, in a phase of conversion, or had presented to the regional authority the request to convert. Fifteen farms, located throughout the region, were selected and a questionnaire was compiled with the aim of examining some of the structural and management aspects of organic farming system, as well as the transformation and commercialization of their products. The results of the study, differentiated according the productive characteristics of the farms (milk, meat and double purpose farms), highlighted some of the technical problems that arise due to the conversion process (structural changes required to adapt to organic standards, systems that are too intensive on milk-producing farms, indiscriminate use of crossbreeds, etc.) and some commercial difficulties, in all types of farms, associated with selling the products as “organic”.

Developement of organic sheep farming systems in Umbria (Central Italy)

MORBIDINI, Luciano;PAUSELLI, Mariano;
2004

Abstract

Organic agriculture has been developing rapidly in recent years in Europe, particularly in Italy. About 23.6% of the lands in Europe are organically managed, while in Italy almost one million hectares are involved in organic agriculture (Willer and Yussefi, 2001) with an almost 50% growth rate of per-capita spending from 1997 to 2000. The EC Regulation 1804/99 regarding organic livestock standards was made into law by the Italian Government in August 2000. In conjunction with the Dept. of Agriculture (ARUSIA) of Umbria (a region in Central Italy), a survey was carried out on a sample of organic (or about to be organic) sheep farms. The aim was to investigate the real possibility of converting the traditional Umbrian sheep farming system to an organic one, with particular attention paid to the interests of the herdsmen. The sample group was selected from among the Umbrian sheep farms which were already certified as organic, in a phase of conversion, or had presented to the regional authority the request to convert. Fifteen farms, located throughout the region, were selected and a questionnaire was compiled with the aim of examining some of the structural and management aspects of organic farming system, as well as the transformation and commercialization of their products. The results of the study, differentiated according the productive characteristics of the farms (milk, meat and double purpose farms), highlighted some of the technical problems that arise due to the conversion process (structural changes required to adapt to organic standards, systems that are too intensive on milk-producing farms, indiscriminate use of crossbreeds, etc.) and some commercial difficulties, in all types of farms, associated with selling the products as “organic”.
2004
9782853522960
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11391/7484
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