Full case study report: Bio-Distretto Cliento -Italy

Summary

The Italian long‐standing tradition and experience with industrial and agro‐industrial districts and the 2001 national Agricultural Act including a specific article on “rural and quality agro‐food districts” (and following regulations), have undoubtedly contributed to inspire the more recent phenomenon of “bio‐distretti” initiatives. Bio‐distretti are spreading from south to north across the country, gathering the interest of private and public actors around a context‐specific project of local development. This is essentially based on the combination of the “district culture and tradition” with a precise focus on organic agriculture and its significant potential for sustainable territorial development (Pugliese and Antonelli 2015). Bio‐distretto Cilento, in Campania region, is the first bio‐district initiative carried out in Italy. Its pioneer experience constitutes a key starting point and reference case for the many other initiatives that have emerged in the last five years, each with specific context features and distinct development history and trajectory, but all sharing the “bio‐district” vision and objectives. So far 11 bio‐districts have been officially established in 9 regions and 3 more are underway.