Italy is opening a new chapter in the dialogue between agriculture, citizens, and European institutions. Leading the way is Florence, which from November 28 to 30 will host the 39th Conference of the Association for Biodynamic Agriculture, an event that over the years has become a center of gravity for scholars, farmers, administrators, and researchers from all over Europe.
This year’s title, “Agriculture as Social Art,” marks a change of pace: no longer just an academic debate, but a real laboratory of ideas for rethinking the future of food, from seed to plate, from field to public canteens.
The initiative enjoys broad and authoritative institutional support: the Ministry of Agriculture, the Region of Tuscany, the Municipality and Metropolitan City of Florence, as well as ISDE – International Society of Doctors for the Environment. Adding depth to the program is a mosaic of interventions involving leading organizations such as AIDA, FAI, Slow Food, WWF, Navdanya International, Rete Humus, Organic Cities Network Europe, Italian and German universities, and numerous biodistricts and organic and biodynamic farms.
A proposal that aims to change the public supply chain
Carlo Triarico, president of the Biodynamic Association, explains the heart of the project:
“We must bring farmers into restaurants, canteens, hospitals, and schools. The food issue today is an urgent social issue. We want to build a food democracy: transparent, participatory, based on solidarity and the dignity of agricultural work.”
The goal is clear: to bring producers and consumers closer together, especially in public places where food should be a right—not a luxury.
Three stages, one direction: Europe
From the debate in Florence, on December 3, the discussion will move to the European Parliament, in the Sala Spinelli, where the Biodynamic Association – together with Organic Cities Network Europe, the network of European mayors committed to organic farming – will bring together parliamentarians, researchers, and international organizations to relaunch the “Brussels Declaration”, a document calling for concrete measures for a truly sustainable food policy.
On December 11, the dialogue will move to Rome: the Sala Cavour of the MASAF will host the conference “Organic towards 25%,” an event that will bring together representatives of the Ministry, agricultural networks, researchers, and some of the most active Italian organic and biodynamic companies.
From here, a real European tour will begin—from Hamburg to Vienna, passing through Turin, Paris, and Mouans-Sartoux—which will end again in Brussels, at the Committee of the Regions.
A movement that starts in Italy
“With these three events,” concludes Triarico, “we want to set a concrete example from Italy of a great movement for food democracy. We want to involve European cities, organizations, and institutions in a shared project that can truly change the way we produce and consume food.”
