AgroBRIDGES Good Practice Recording Template
SFSC Name: Via Amerina and Forre Bio-District
Author(s)	Marika Ferrari, Deborah Martone
Choose a primary theme that the Good Practice adheres to (three themes can be considered:	Public procurement SFSCs approaches for offices schools hospitals etc.
If relevant choose a secondary theme that the Good Practice adheres to	Mutual benefits between primary producers and consumers
If relevant choose a tertiary theme that the Good Practice adheres to	Education and awareness raising practices
EIP Practice Abstract Format: Short summary for practitioners in English on the (final or expected) outcomes (1000-1500 characters, word count – no spaces).This summary should be as interesting as possible for farmers/end-users, using a direct and easy understandable language and pointing out entrepreneurial elements which are particularly relevant for practitioners. Research oriented aspects which do not help the understanding of the practice itself should be avoided.	Short description of the ‘Good Practice’: The biodistrict is a geographical area, naturally suited to organic farming, where farmers, citizens, tour operators, associations and public administrations make an agreement for the sustainable management of resources, starting from the agricultural production model. The sustainable model includes short food supply chain, organic school canteens and many other actions. In the Bio-District area of ​​Via Amerina and the Forre there are, to date, several hundred agricultural producers engaged in the fruit and vegetable, wine, livestock and processing chains of other excellent products. Their offer is aimed at the domestic market, however for some products, such as olive oil and wine, the most accessible markets are foreign ones. In the Biodistrict there is the project “The Earth that I would like, let’s cut pesticides we support organic agriculture”, in which informative and training meetings are planned for producers and citizens. The training courses are organized with the involvement of teachers from the research institutions. The topics covered are: workplace safety, the conversion towards organic production of chestnut and hazelnut and the promotion and protection of territorial biodiversity. The Bio-District project fits perfectly into the experience of the “District of VIA AMERINA and FORRE” in which several municipalities in the area were already protagonists (Civita Castellana, Castel Sant’Elia, Corchiano, Fabrica di Roma, Faleria, Gallese, Nepi , Orte, Vasanello, Calcata, Vignanello, Vallerano and Canepina). The idea of ​​the Bio-District is inclusive of other municipalities in the area who decide to join the project, hence the importance of joining in 2017 three municipalities in the Cimini mountains: Canepina, Vallerano and Vignanello.
	Main results/outcomes of the activity (expected or final): Biodistrict constituion July 2019, institutional catering 7 and 8 June: in Corchiano training course on Organic Collective Catering. Technical experts from AIAB Federale took part, the course was organized by ALBERT, a leading company in the sector thanks to the “BIO UNDER HOME” program, promoted under Regulations (EC) no. 3/2008 and n. 501/2008 by the Temporary Grouping of Companies specifically set up between AIAB (lead partner), AMAB and Coldiretti.
	The main practical recommendation(s): what would be the main added value/benefit or opportunities to the end-user if the generated knowledge were implemented? How can the practitioner make use of the results? Constitution of a organic agriculture-based community where producers are supported and citizens can enjoy a safe and nutritious diet. Practitioners can exploit the whole environment. Food trade can be better explored in future.
	Further information/ Reference:governance https://biodistrettoamerina.com
Pearls, Puzzles, Proposals?	Pearls: In 2019, all over the whole territory Italy has 33 biodistricts that are “partnership between producers, local authorities and consumers who focus on organic production and sustainable practices. How they work and what are the positive impacts”. https://altreconomia.it/biodistretti-italia-agricoltura-biologica/. In February 2021 the number of established or under construction biodistricts has reached 51. RRN-CREA, maggio 2021. https://www.reterurale.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/22661 Puzzles: Organic agriculture is a mandatory requirement for biodistricts. Proposals: Promote the organization in biodistrict of each community having resources to share in a homogeneous geographical area.
What needs did the ‘good practice’ respond to?	The needs of infrastructures for supporting communities and especially their governance, a natural Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Providing an organic agriculture-based food system supporting the rural community.
Methodology Used:	Desk analysis
Sector	All Sectors
Actors/Stakeholders involved. Who are key actors in the supply chain AND who are key enablers of the process?	Local Authorities, producers, consumers, all food system actors
Is the good practice supported by an IT application? If yes please describe and collect the TRL	Website and governance
Optional: What supports were provided by public sector bodies/policy instruments?	Regulation
Media attachment (e.g. video link) or other attachment describing/depicting the Good Pratice	RRN-CREA (Organic agriculture for territorial development – The experience of Biological Districtis). https://www.reterurale.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/19806 [RRN-CREA] According to public interventions, Ministry of Agriculture agreement with Google to promote the agri-tourism https://www.gamberorosso.it/notizie/gambero-rosso-e-agriturismo-it-insieme-per-premiare-i-migliori-20-agriristoranti-ditalia/
Key words	biodistrict, short food supply chain, rural network, community supported agriculture, organic agriculture, agri-tourism, ministry of agriculture.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101000788