This document proposes converting abandoned industrial sites in Sicily into prisons and social cooperatives where inmates can work. Specifically, it suggests establishing a social cooperative at an old mine in Grottacalda, Sicily where prisoners would be engaged in cultivating olives and saffron. A business plan is presented outlining production levels and financial projections over 5 years for an olive oil and saffron stigma business run by inmate workers, with the goals of rehabilitation and job opportunities for prisoners.

2. CATEGORY:
TOURISM AND
CULTURAL HERITAGE
PREMIO 2014-2015 organizzato da
Associazione LIFEBILITY
per la diffusione dell’ETICA sociale LIONS presso i giovani
e per favorire l’ingresso nel mondo del lavoro

3. TOURISM AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
PROJECT N° 96
VERDI ORIZZONTI
by Angelo MONTELEONE - Catania
PREMIO 2014-2015 organizzato da
Associazione LIFEBILITY
per la diffusione dell’ETICA sociale LIONS presso i giovani
e per favorire l’ingresso nel mondo del lavoro

4. Turismo e beni culturali
LB5.096
Dott. Angelo Monteleone
Tutor
Dott.ssa Manuela Zaffaroni
096 – Verdi Orizzonti/ Angelo Monteleone

5. ITALIAN PRISONS
“Punishment can not consist in treatment contrary to human
dignity and must aim at rehabilitating the offender”.
(art. 27, Italian Constitution)
May 27th, 2013:
the European Court of Human Rights
with the judgment Torreggiani
sentenced Italy definitively of inhuman
and degrading treatment of seven
prisoners
The 80% of prisoners initiated to work do not reiterate the crime after
his sentence, while conversely the 80% of prisoners who have not had
the opportunity to ply a trade, return in prison.
Today, the emergence of prisons does not seem resolved, also only the 20% of
prisoners have the "privilege" to lead an occupation or study
With the Plan Prisons, launched officially by
decree of January 13th, 2010, the Italian State
provided the creation of additional beds, and
actions to restructure execution techniques
of the sentence
096 – Verdi Orizzonti/ Angelo Monteleone

6. SOLUTION
Convert the immovables of industrial archeology in prisons where inmate are engaged in job
The establishment of a social cooperative near the old mine Grottacalda (EN),
where the prisoners are engaged in the cultivation of olives and saffron
The charm of abandoned industrial complexes suggests an enhancement passing essentially through
use of the cultural heritage
Old buildings nowadays are an element of the fascinating landscape of the Sicilian hinterland, the
testimony of the heart of the South Industry
IDEA
096 – Verdi Orizzonti/ Angelo Monteleone

7. ALTERNATIVES
Many Italian prisons
Social
cooperatives
outside the prisons
The open prisons of
Sardinia and Gorgona
Administration and security
simplified
Unfavorable working
conditions for the police;
Few job opportunities for
convicts
Experimental places that
now are successful
productive companies
They are too far from the city,
with great inconvenience for
police men and the families of
inmates
Specialization in various
services and production
sectors
Large expenses for the
management of local and
areas for the execution of all
activities
096 – Verdi Orizzonti/ Angelo Monteleone

8. CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
Terrain 1 Terrain 2
% Clay 5,5000 22,8000
% Silt 31,3500 16,6000
% Sand 63,1500 60,6000
Analyzes performed by the Department of Agronomy, Agrochemical Sciences and Animal
Production – University of Catania – September 2014
3 ha
Loose ground
Cultivation of
saffron
16 ha
Low percentage of
silt
Planting olive trees
Use of decentralized low-
impact urban areas
Reimbursement of legal
costs by the inmates
New opportunities for growth and
experimentation in agriculture
096 – Verdi Orizzonti/ Angelo Monteleone

9. The old power plant – about 680 mq
Exploitation of the historic and
architectural heritage
Lower consumption of soil
A period of detention not only
afflictive, but that is based on
rehabilitation
market Stock of olive
oil and
packaged
saffron Garage
Saffron
processing and
packaging
olives
warehouse
Oil mill
Olive
oil
olives
saffron
stigmas
CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
096 – Verdi Orizzonti/ Angelo Monteleone

10. Free loan of premises and
lands of the penitentiary
Cultivation of olives and saffron for
the production of extra virgin olive oil
and saffron stigmas
STRATEGY
33
18
50
72
303027
24
00
1st year 2nd year 3rd year 4th year 5th year
Saffron (kg/year)
Olive oil (t/year)
Third year:
Purchase of an oil mill machinery
Recruitment of new inmates
Second year:
Increase of saffron production
Access to new markets
First year:
Start of saffron production
Recruitment and training
Fourth year:
Olive oil production
Purchase of a bottling line
Recruitment of new inmates
TARGETS
096 – Verdi Orizzonti/ Angelo Monteleone

11. MARKETING MIX
Costs for the first year of production:
266.756 €
Costs in the following years:
248.612* €/year
* with possible savings of € 80,000 for the saffron bulbs purchase
COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS
PRODUCT
Job opportunities for prisoners and start of the new
crop in Sicily, the saffron cultivation
PRICE
Extra virgin olive oil and saffron stigmas, high quality
products offered at competitive prices, made with
simple techniques and low operating costs
PLACE
First sales at the food shops of the prison, then in
the chains of high-quality foods
PROMOTION
A brand of Italian quality, high social value, born
in an area rich in history and traditions
Revenues for the first three years of
activity: 250.000 €/year
Revenues in the following years:
330.000 €/year
€
096 – Verdi Orizzonti/ Angelo Monteleone

12. For about two centuries Grottacalda was the heart of Sicily,
and today we could bring back to beat this heart, with vigour.
096 – Verdi Orizzonti/ Angelo Monteleone