Emilia-Romagna Region

Agriculture and food

Emilia-Romagna PDO and PGI products: created here, enjoyed worldwide

PDO and PGI products

From a region proud of its unique and inimitable food and wine traditions, forged by the coming together of quality, know-how and the territory itself, come unrivalled PDO and PGI products: exquisite flavours, rich seams of delicious delights and unrepeatable sensory experiences.

44 such veritable treasures testify to an age-old bond – based on harmony with man – and successfully paint the picture of the true essence of Emilia-Romagna: the quality of food.

Culinary treasures

Agro-food exports

Unique local products, such as Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (the world-famous Parmesan from Parma and Reggio Emilia), Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena (Modena’s balsamic vinegar), cured Parma ham, Grana Padano cheese and a range of other products of inestimable excellence are the items that form the culinary treasure map of Emilia-Romagna.

Top-quality typical products, processed following traditional methods, together with an industrial fabric specialised in the production of consumer goods and food processing machinery: this is the Emilia-Romagna of Protected Geographic Indication (PGI) and Protected Denomination of Origin (PDO) products.

Emilia-Romagna was the first Italian region to adopt specific rules regarding the production of quality-controlled products, as well as being the first to adopt a law on food traceability, making it a region that specialises not only in producing culinary treasures, but also food processing machinery.

Indeed, the area between Reggio and Modena accounts for the highest concentration of agricultural machinery production in Italy, whilst between Bologna and Parma the production of industrial food packaging machines is the most competitive on a global level. The combination of entrepreneurship and the spirit of cooperation that are typical of the region are expressed more clearly in the food and agriculture sector.

In 2016, exports from the region’s agri-food value chain amounted to around 7 billion euro, 16.5% of the national total. The various agri-food sectors represent 12.5% of total exports from Emilia-Romagna. The agri-food value chain as a whole enjoyed increasing export figures during the period from 2008 to 2016 (+32.8%), showing good resilience to the economic crisis.

The most export-oriented sectors are meat and meat-based products, other produce, agricultural and forestry machinery and dairy products; together, these sectors represent 57.7% of total exports.

Food excellence is also nurtured through specific educational institutions, including ALMA, Italy's most prestigious cookery training school, a large number of high-schools across the region specialising in hospitality and catering and Chef to Chef, an association grouping together over 50 chefs and set up to promote evolution in regional cuisine and its national and international reputation.

Emilia-Romagna PDO wines

In Emilia-Romagna we produce unique and sustainable products that locals turn into unforgettable experiences. The different types of soil present in the region guarantee a broad range of wines, while innovative viticulture practices and wine-making techniques ensure extremely high quality standards.

Important steps have been taken to make sure regional wines are increasingly in keeping with the culture and traditions of the territory. This takes place thanks to close collaboration with various consortiums, established to promote and develop the region’s traditional products.

For this reason, the Enoteca regionale or Regional Wine Cellar promotes and participates in various cooperative activities that serve to emphasise the pairing of Emilia-Romagna wines with the region’s other exquisite gastronomic delicacies.

PDO wines

Farming innovation and Food safety

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An agricultural knowledge system has been developed to facilitate dialogue between agricultural practice and research in the region of Emilia-Romagna. The system develops based on a cyclic structure, pursuing production innovation through an intersectoral approach capable of integrating the entire innovation chain, both on the regional territory and at an international level.

Thanks to specific coordination tools, the agricultural knowledge system produces systemic knowledge, facilitating and constantly fuelling dialogue between the main stakeholders in the agriculture sector, with increasing focus on product quality, consumer health and environmental protection.

 

Food safety

Food safety is a core area of public health policy and is implemented by monitoring foods of animal and vegetable origin from farm to fork.

Both EU and Italian legislation place the primary responsibility on the food industry, which is directly responsible for the safety of the foods it produces. Quality control activities cover various functional areas, including health and safety monitoring of the production of foods of animal origin and related products, starting with the monitoring of slaughtering operations through to pre- and post-mortem inspections, processing, distribution and serving of foods of animal origin.

One key focus of these monitoring activities is products exported to non-EU states.

There are a great number of mutual opportunities and challenges: in animal health and welfare, with checks on animal products and foods of animal and non-animal origin, through checks on phytosanitary products, analyses of preparations and monitoring for residues in plant and animal materials.

In most of our region's PDO and PGI products (meat and dairy produce), the microbiological threat is checked starting with raw materials, with the requirements for specific quality and health and safety characteristics and lengthy curing or ripening processes.

Organic Farming: record-breaking figures for Emilia-Romagna

In 2017, there were 5,555 organic farm businesses operating in the sector, a 10% increase and with a 13.5% rise in the total area under organic crops, making the region the leader in northern Italy.

A total of 13% of the region's agricultural land is organically farmed, with an impressive number of farms run by young farmers.

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ultima modifica 2018-10-09T13:34:50+01:00
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