Confagricoltura and Italian Marine Saltworks Launch Project to Recognize Salt Farming as Agriculture

Confagricoltura and Italian marine saltworks have launched a national project, 'L'agricoltura coltiva il sale' (Agriculture Cultivates Salt), in Assemini, Sardinia. This initiative aims to recognize salt farming as an agricultural activity, emphasizing its role in environmental conservation and economic development.

The project was unveiled on June 4, 2023, at the Antiche Officine della Salina Conti Vecchi in Macchiareddu, Assemini. Key figures present at the launch included Confagricoltura Sardegna President Paolo Mele, Confagricoltura Director General Annamaria Barrile, and Sardinia Region President Alessandra Todde.

The collaboration between Confagricoltura and Italian marine saltworks was formalized on September 27, 2023, in Rome. The primary objective of the project is to demonstrate that salt farming is equivalent to agricultural activity, recognizing the sector's role in preserving the territory, environment, and ecosystem while producing a valuable nutritional element.

Why this matters: Recognizing salt farming as an agricultural activity can have a significant impact on environmental conservation, economic development, and tourism in regions where salt production is a major industry. This project could lead to increased investment, job creation, and sustainable practices in the salt production sector.

Annamaria Barrile, Confagricoltura Director General, highlighted the potential synergy between salt farming and agriculture, stating, 'The marine saltworks also constitute a strong tourist attraction. By bringing marine salt farming closer to agricultural activity, there would be a synergy between the two sectors that would certainly lead to a tourist valorization, increasing the link between territory and agri-food products, to the benefit of the country's economy.'

The project has already been presented in Sicily and Puglia, two of Italy's most important regions for salt production. This event in Sardinia marks the third stage of the project, which aims to define a law that sets normative criteria for assimilating marine salt farming with agricultural activity.

Sardinia boasts significant salt production sites, including the Salina Ing. Luigi Conti Vecchi in Cagliari, which spans nearly 2,800 hectares, and the Salina di Sant'Antioco, the main salt production site in Sardinia with an annual output of 180,000 tons.

Italy's marine saltworks cover an area of almost 10,000 hectares, with an average annual production of around 1.2 million tons. The national salt production industry has a turnover of over €60 million per year. Italy ranks third in Europe for its contribution to the value added of the blue economy sector.

France has already included salt farming in its national agricultural activities since 2019, through a modification of the Rural Code and Maritime Fishing. This provides a precedent for Italy to follow in recognizing the agricultural value of salt farming.

Paolo Mele, President of Confagricoltura Sardegna, emphasized the historical significance and productivity of Sardinia's saltworks, stating, 'Some areas of southern Sardinia still represent, after centuries of long tradition, the most productive realities in Italy. That's why the national project we are carrying out aims to insert this type of compartment into agricultural activities in the near future.'

Sardinia Region President Alessandra Todde expressed support for the initiative, calling it 'an important project, a necessary step for our Island.' She added that the region stands alongside this strategic sector, which must create more value, development, and employment.

The project 'L'agricoltura coltiva il sale' represents a significant step towards integrating salt farming into Italy's agricultural framework, with potential benefits for environmental conservation, tourism, and the economy.

Key Takeaways

• Confagricoltura and Italian marine saltworks launch "L'agricoltura coltiva il sale" project to recognize salt farming as an agricultural activity.
• The project aims to demonstrate salt farming's role in environmental conservation and economic development.
• Recognizing salt farming as an agricultural activity can boost investment, job creation, and sustainable practices.
• Italy's marine saltworks cover 10,000 hectares, producing 1.2 million tons of salt annually, with a €60 million turnover.
• France has already included salt farming in its national agricultural activities, providing a precedent for Italy to follow.