Session -- Building Policy Support for Public Markets: Linking Rural and Urban Economies and Communities Alessandro Portinaro is Project Manager of Conservatoria delle Cucine Mediterranee in Torino, Italy.

1. ALESSANDRO PORTINARO
Building Policy Support for
Public Markets: Linking Rural
and Urban Economies and
Communities
Project Manager
Conservatoria delle Cucine
Mediterranee

2.
9th International Public Markets Conference
Building policy support for public markets: linking urban and rural
economies and communities
Barcelona, 26th March 2015
Alessandro Portinaro
Conservatoria delle Cucine Mediterranee

4. Economic indicators
GDP/ Nominal €123,169 billion (2011)
GDP per capita €27,700 (2011)
Piedmont Region: key figures
General indicators
Area: 25,402 km2 (9,808 sq mi)
Population: 4.646,251
Metropolitan area: 1.515.786
Density: 180/km2 (470/sq mi)

5. Piedmont Region: key figures
Economic sector % on regional GDP % on Italian
GDP
Agriculture 1,35 1,84
Industry 21,83 18,3
Construction industry, building 4,55 5,41
Services (commerce, tourism,
transports and communication)
20,28 20,54
Finance, intermediation, brokerage 25,04 24,17
Other services 16,3 18,97
Taxes 10,65 10,76

6.
Why Piedmont is an interesting territory?Why Piedmont is an interesting territory?
More than 70% of the surface: mountains and hills.
More than 1200 municipalities (out of 8000 in Italy) are in Piedmont.
Turin is the 4th
metropolitan area in Italy.
One of the most industrialized region.
Presence of big companies (Fiat, Ferrero, …) and PME's.
Constant and increasing migratory flows.
But also:
A Region of food excellences (wine, cheese, rice, fruits, meat, ...)
The highest presence of farmers in the markets.

7.
The fracture between the urban areas and the countryside,The fracture between the urban areas and the countryside,
when and how?when and how?
We have to go back to the period of the industrialisation process,
with the changing of the socio-economic background and the
relationship between agriculture, industry and services.
In Italy, among the end of the 50ies and the following decade, the
number of workers in the agricultural sector dropped from over 8
millions to less than 5.

8.
The fracture between the urban areas and the countryside,The fracture between the urban areas and the countryside,
when and how?when and how?
The force of attraction of the cities, with the great jobs offers
coming from the industries.
The introduction of mechanics and chemicals in agriculture,
with the consequent drop of workers requirement.
The migratory flows from the poorer to the richer areas: the
departure areas are often rural ones, the final destinations are
big and medium sized cities.

9.
What kind of role the market can play in the relationshipWhat kind of role the market can play in the relationship
between city and countryside?between city and countryside?
In the past the local market was the principal place where farmers
and handcrafters were able to sell their goods.
Today the distribution system is more complex.
Now a market can survive if it's a meeting point, a place that host
local productions and promote socialisation.

10.
But when a market is able to link rural and urban areas...But when a market is able to link rural and urban areas...
We can observe positive repercussions on the territory
from different point of view:
Economic
Social and cultural
Environmental

11.
Positive effects on the local economyPositive effects on the local economy
The richness and the added value remain on the territory.
The entire production and supply chain
is concentrated in few steps.
The small and super-small agricultural business can easily
commercialize their products.

12.
The presence of farmers and local productsThe presence of farmers and local products
in Turin and in Piedmont Region.in Turin and in Piedmont Region.
A logistic platform in the wholesale market
dedicated to local producers.
More than 300 farmers in the Turin markets
and several farmers markets.
From 20% up to 60% of regional products
in the Porta Palazzo market.

13.
The national legislative framework:The national legislative framework:
how to improve farmers presence in the markets.how to improve farmers presence in the markets.
Legislative Decree no. 228/2001, Law no. 57/2001, Law no. 296/2006
Definition of minimum uniform standards for the realization of the
farmer’s markets, the terms of sale and price transparency.
The decree introduces the guidelines for the creation of new markets
reserved to farmers.
Farmers, individually or jointly, can sell directly to retail in the whole
territory of the Republic, the products coming, in a predominant part, from
their respective farms, in compliance with the provisions in force
concerning hygiene and health

14.
The regional legislative framework:The regional legislative framework:
how to improve farmers presence in the markets.how to improve farmers presence in the markets.
Regional Law no. 12/2008
Provides incentives for the strengthening of the short chain supply
and establishes funding for the development of markets or direct
retail space on public or private areas, to which the farmers,
operating in the territory where the markets are located, have
access to.

15.
The City of Turin regulation framework:The City of Turin regulation framework:
how to improve farmers presence in the markets.how to improve farmers presence in the markets.
The Regulation approved on March 21st, 2011 by the City Council:
indicates the types of products that farmers can sell, specifies the
requirements that need to be met by the equipments used and underlines
the fact that on the sale stall must be a reference to the farm in order to
make the chain supply transparent and traceable.
In the case, provided for by law, in which are offered for sale goods not
produced in the farm, these must be clearly recognizable.

16.
Social and cultural aspectsSocial and cultural aspects
Building community: a market is a place of social
relations.
Farmers coming from the same territory and selling
similar products can find a new way to collaborate.
Trust bonds among farmers and consumers.

17.
Two succesful exemplesTwo succesful exemples
“Gruppi di Acquisto Solidali”: Ethical Purchasing Groups.
A bottom-up connection among urban and rural areas.
The Paniere (basket) of typical products of the Province of Turin.
A projects developed by a local authority focused on the promotion of
typical food farming productions.

18.
The environmental advantagesThe environmental advantages
A better supply chain traceability:
better controls and a direct demand of quality.
Increasing consumers' knowledge about local products:
More attention to local varieties, organic food, seasonality.
0 km products:
reduced emission for goods transportation.
The local agricultures become a real economic opportunity:
The rural areas can be able to hold companies, workers and be managed in
the proper way.

19.
The market as the territory's showcaseThe market as the territory's showcase
A farm that exposes its products can also promote its
business and invite consumers to visit the farm and the
territory.
A small farm can expand its range of activities:
accomodation facilities, food and environmental
education classes, ...

20.
ConclusionsConclusions
We have to support our markets, facilitate the presence of farmers and
local products, strengthening the social role of our markets.
We need a coherent legislative framework, concrete projects, new
researches and analysis.
Markets can be a useful tool to increase the link between urban and rural
areas, but we need to raise public awareness of this issue.

21. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
alessandro.portinaro@gmail.comalessandro.portinaro@gmail.com
www.cucinemediterranee.netwww.cucinemediterranee.net