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Base de données des projets PDR

Native Plant Certification in Lombardia for an Emerging Market

Summary

Demand for native plant species in protected areas and as ornamentals has increased in Lombardia. This project assisted in establishing a new certification system so consumers could be confident in the quality of plants in this emerging supply chain.

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Background

Plant nurseries in Lombardia noticed an increased demand for native plant species for both environmental protection purposes and for use as ornamentals. However, potential purchasers did not have “buying confidence” as a certification system to support this emerging supply chain was not in place. Hence, there was a need for various actors to collaborate in creating a testing and certification process that would help establish and consolidate this market opportunity.

Objective

The overall aim of the project was to support the newly expanding market for native plants in Lombardia. This was to be done by building consumer confidence, in both the environmental protection/restoration and ornamental sectors, in the quality of native plants through the establishment of a reliable system of testing and certification of native plant seedlings. Plant nurseries were also to be assisted in developing a system to produce these native plants on a greater scale.

Main activities

The main activities supported by the project were: i) selecting the native plant species eligible for certification; ii) collecting reproductive material and preparing protocols for their storage; iii) developing a viable system of enterprise-scale cultivation of different species in 10 nurseries; iv) certification of native plants with native brand FLORA ® (certified origin); v) environmental certification to UNI EN ISO 14020 (certified native plants).

Results & Benefits

Twenty protocols have successfully been prepared for the off site (ex-situ) cultivation of native species in nurseries. Following the completion of this project the 3 entities involved – Parco Monte Barro, Minoprio Foundation and University of Pavia – are gauging the potential interest in the inclusion of more native plants in the certification process. The district Florovivaistico Alto Lombardo (DIFLOAL) was set up through the collaboration of public administrations, nurseries and other service

Lessons learnt

The tight time-span dictated by the project timetable made it very difficult to allow the project’s quality assurance processes to progress through the stages of cultivation. However, optimizing the seasonal opportunities for seedling collection, planting, cultivation and management helped to resolve this issue.

Project location and other information

Provinces of Brescia, Lecco, Milano, Pavia, Varese The district is also leading a new project funded through measure 124 which aims at achieving full-scale production and supply of plant and landscape restoration material, compensation-related initiatives and large-scale projects in protected areas.

Region

Lombardia

RDP Territory

Lombardia

Total project cost (€)

210 063

EAFRD contribution (€)

101 911

Private contribution (€)

108 152

Project website

Contact name

Azienda Agricola BESCHI ALVARO & GIULIO SS

Telephone

+39 030 674639

Languages for contact

English, Italian

At a glance

Country

Italy

Final beneficiary type

Individual farmers, Producer groups, Public/local authorities

Budget range

€100 000 - €500 000

Start date:

31/01/2011

End Date:

31/07/2012

Theme / Measure:

• Competitiveness of Agriculture & Forestry
• Restructuring, developing physical potential, and promoting innovation
• 124: Cooperation for development of new products, processes and technologies

Keywords:

Public-private-partnership, Quality certification, Quality labels, Cooperation, Environmental management

Last update

01/08/2013