Agriculture, Ismea: “The agritourism system holds up and tests new solutions for the future”

The Italian model of agricultural diversification continues to represent a successful case in the panorama of international rural development, rich in multiple forms and activities that have gradually developed around the resources of the farm. This is what emerged today during the conference ‘Agriturismo and multifunctionality, scenario and future perspectives of the sector’, organized in Florence by Ismea and during which the 2021 Agriturismo Report created by Ismea and Rrn was presented. “The photograph taken today frames a sector that, despite an unprecedented liquidity crisis, has kept its entrepreneurial fabric unaltered”, said the president of Ismea, Angelo Frascarelli. “Over 25,000 farmhouses, despite a significant reduction in the value of production which went from 1.56 billion euros in 2019 to 802 million euros in 2020, but the first estimates for 2021 are up sharply. Agritourism farms have shown adaptability by remaining on the market thanks to the prevalence of agricultural activity, with the transformation and direct sale of products; have often identified innovative solutions and experimented with new proposals for hospitality and services “, he underlined. Even with respect to the sharp decline suffered by tourism during the pandemic, within the overall framework of Italian accommodation, the farm was the sector that was able to respond to the changing needs , by resorting to the proximity market and loyal customers. In fact, in 2020, in terms of overnight stays, the resilience of domestic demand recorded a decline of ‘only’ 2.7% on an annual basis, as reported in the ‘Agritourism and multifunctionality’ report , presented today. “Now in its fifth edition – said the vice-president and councilor for agri-food of the Tuscany Region, Stefania Saccardi – the report on agritourism and multifunctionality is outlined as a tool for analyzing the agritourism sector and multifunctionality in agriculture. the first edition represented the state of the art photography, year after year it took on the appearance of pr valuable information and training tool. The agricultural sector suffered serious damage during the health emergency but at this point we can say that for the agritourism sector the damage was more contained than in other sectors certainly more affected “.” In Tuscany, through multifunctionality, farms have able to respond to the crisis also through the diversification of its activities. Furthermore – continued Saccardi – alternative and parallel supplies to organized distribution were activated, focusing on local supply chains, managing to quickly renew its offer of products and services. In the report presented today, therefore, signs of trust emerged: accommodation and catering remain strong points, but tasting activities such as wine and oil tourism are consolidated as well as the demand from local customers. . And this thanks to the great adaptive response capacity on which our entrepreneurs have been able to count, also thanks to the variety and quality of the products they offer. “Among the most recent paths – and with greater prospects for future development – there is that of services to the person offered by farms, such as those of educational farms and social agriculture, which very often support the services offered by the farm. It will be important to read these dynamics in the light of the measures envisaged at national level and by the next CAP, as well as by the NRP, to ensure a systematic perspective of growth in the sector. “The picture outlined today – said the undersecretary for agricultural, food and forestry policies , Senator Gian Marco Centinaio – highlighted how the sector has been an example not only of resilience, but also of vitality, in the complicated context due to the consequences of Covid-19. Although the pandemic has significantly reduced the turnover of many companies, the farm has confirmed itself as one of the most lively and dynamic sectors of Italian agriculture – and tourism – both in terms of supply and potential. This is confirmed by the 2021 data which show signs of recovery for companies in the sector “.” I have always been convinced – continued the undersecretary – that tourism linked to our products of excellence, such as wine and even oil, and in general to the rich food and wine heritage that makes Italy unique in the world, can be a tool to further enhance the territories and help integrate the overall value of our agriculture even in lesser known areas. The pandemic, on the other hand, has led to the rediscovery, and in some cases to discover, of the Italians themselves a tourism of proximity, sustainable and attentive to the environment. Typicality, well-being, nature, education, attention to social issues – concluded the undersecretary – are all elements that make the Italian model of multifunctionality a successful case with great potential “.