MILAN (ITALPRESS) – Lombardy Region puts on the ground more than 32 million euros lost in the context of the SRD02 intervention to support 115 Lombardy farms who have chosen to invest in order to improve their structures protecting the environment and increasing the well-being of animals bred. These companies had submitted eligible projects, but were initially excluded from financing for the exhaustion of available resources. With this new appropriation, the Lombardy Region chose to completely stream the ranking and give a concrete answer to all companies that had submitted valid projects within the SSRD02.
“Our farms – says the regional Councillor for Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, Alessandro Beduschi – represent the productive heart of our territories and do not back up in front of the challenges. With this intervention we want to reward those who invest, innovate and look to the future, ensuring that the work and resources put in place by farmers to design these interventions are not lost.”.
The measure published today on the Burl (Bollettino ufficiale della Regione Lombardia) allows to finance 115 new projects, for a total of more than 32.068.233 euros. 32 pig companies and 83 companies from different zootechnical sectors are involved. “An important part of the resources concerns the pig industry – says Beduschi. Here investing also means strengthening biosecurity and making companies more prepared in the prevention of African Peste Suina. It is an investment on animal health, on the safety of farms and on the holding of a fundamental supply chain for Lombardy agriculture”.
Particular attention is paid to investments for animal welfare, supported by the intervention SRD02. “When we talk about animal well-being – the Councillor points out – we are talking first of all about improving the conditions in which animals are bred: more modern structures, more adequate environments, greater attention to health and breeding systems able to better respond to their needs.” “It is important to overcome an ideological representation of agriculture and farming – adds Beduschi. Animal welfare is not in contrast with the work of farmers. On the contrary, an animal bred in better conditions is also a healthier animal, and this results in greater efficiency of the farms, safer and better quality productions and a better economic sustainability for companies”. “Those who invest in animal welfare invest in animals and in the future of their own business. This is the concrete road that we must follow, without ideological opposition and without letting that to speak are always and only the most extreme positions”.
With this additional allocation, the SRD02 intervention reaches 216 projects financed altogether, for more than 101 million euros of aid. “Lombarda agriculture is one of the most advanced and competitive realities in Europe – Beduschi concludes. But innovating, improving structures, protecting the environment and ensuring animal welfare requires important investments. This is why environmental and economic sustainability must proceed together.” “Our task is to put companies in the condition of investing and continuing to produce. Because a strong agriculture is the one that protects the territory and respects the animals, guaranteeing quality productions. Regione Lombardia will continue to be on the side of those who do all this every day”.
– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
