"FACE TO FACE WITH": ANABIO

January 2025

Anabio is the Association for the Promotion of Organic Agriculture of Cia-Agricoltori Italiani (the Italian Farmers Confederation). Throughout Italy it associates 9,500 companies engaged in organic and biodynamic agricultural production. Anabio-Cia is a reference point for farmers in the sector, who operate with sustainable and certified methods, and gives voice to their needs by dialoguing with institutions, both national and EU, and promoting knowledge of the sector. It works to promote organic agriculture in an innovative way and to safeguard its competitiveness. Anabio-Cia has signed the Manifesto of Italian Organic Farming and developed a Memorandum in six fundamental actions for the sector.

In which area is your organisation located?

Anabio is the Association of organic and biodynamic producers promoted by Cia-Agricoltori Italiani. For forty years now, the Made in Italy organic sector has shown an unprecedented capacity for growth and leadership, both in terms of cultivated hectares and number of operators. Over time, this has required strong trade union action in institutional contexts and a targeted intervention for the dissemination of the most correct information among consumers, which Anabio-Cia guarantees with perseverance and courage, giving voice to the instances of the sector's entrepreneurs, working on proposals and concrete solutions to support them, and not missing major international trade fairs such as Sana, a valuable opportunity for promotion and business for operators.

Through which measures can organic farming be enhanced in Italy?

Anabio-Cia has summarised them by signing the Manifesto of Italian Organic Farming and through its own Memorandum, in six fundamental points. First of all, more streamlined certification procedures are needed, as well as a real streamlining of bureaucratic procedures to favour the conversion to organic of farms and beyond. Information and communication campaigns are needed to stimulate the consumption of organic products in order to stimulate demand. Tax relief for producers and more support for research, innovation, technology and training in the sector must be provided. Finally, ensuring uniformity of rules within the EU regarding the production and marketing of organic products, in the full concept of reciprocity.

Has the growing consumer demand for healthy/healthy food urged you to provide more innovative solutions?

In order to tackle the effects of climate change and meet the green challenge, without compromising productivity and supporting consumption, research and innovation in agriculture remain crucial. This is one of the reasons why Anabio-Cia has been working with IBMA Italia for the past five years on an ambitious project that aims to promote the transition in defence against adversities, from synthetic chemicals to bioproducts. A path that is investing in the development of biocontrol technologies in the logic of an increasingly sustainable and innovative agriculture.