Frutti dimenticati e agrobiodiversità: risorse da salvare

INIZIATIVAPRODOTTIDIMONTAGNA

Mountains matter

! home to 13% of the global population ! cover 22% of the earth’s land surface ! host 23% of the world’s forest cover ! provide 60–80% of global freshwater

Mountains under pressure

"  Mountains are being threatened by global challenges such as climate change,

land degradation and natural disasters. High rates of hunger and poverty lead

to migration

"  Mountain people are vulnerable to food insecurity:

!  2000: 253 million = 35% mountain population

!  2012: 329 million = 39% mountain population

Mountains offer solutions

"  Mountains, however, offer solutions.

"  Healthy mountains help prevent natural hazards such as

landslides, floods and avalanches, protecting mountain

communities and those millions of people in lowland areas

whose livelihoods depend on high-elevation ecosystems.

!  host 25% of terrestrial biodiversity !  56% of all UNESCO Biosphere Reserves contain mountains !  welcome 15–20% of global tourism

MOUNTAIN AGRICULTURE

Potential to improve livelihoods and boost local economies when focusing on markets for sustainable, high quality, fair trade products

Rising demand for quality foods and beverages from mountain areas: coffee, honey, herbs and spices, traditional grains, handicrafts, cosmetics...

Inherently green, low impact, family farming, women, traditional knowledge, high diversity

Small-scale mountain businesses often disadvantaged if compared to lowland businesses

# harsh and inaccessible terrains # lack of investments # poor infrastructure # inadequate transportation # lack of training opportunities # unfair market incomes, etc.

Cannot compete with lower prices and larger volumes of lowland production

THE MOUNTAIN PARTNERSHIP PRODUCTS INITIATIVE

The MPP label is a narrative label that tells the story a mountain product, enabling the consumers to make a more informed purchase, and the producers to sell at a premium price

The MPS in collaboration with Slow Food developed a voluntary labelling scheme backed up by a value chain and marketing strategy to benefit small mountain producers from developing countries

Perception of mountain products among consumers

(MP survey in 9 countries)

consumers associate mountain products to positive values but they cannot distinguish them from others in the marketplace

A NARRATIVE LABEL

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OF THE LABEL

# Altitude*: products produced and processed in the mountains # Small-scale: products from small-scale production; including

family farming and small mountain producers cooperatives

# Environmental sustainability: production processes respectful of the environment

# Equity: fair returns for the producer, equitable distribution of profits along the value chain

Sustainable value chains Biodiversity conservation priority Cultural and traditional values

* According to UNEP-WCMC definition

LABEL-GRANTING MECHANISM

Any producer may request the authorization to use the label by filling the application form and submitting it to the MPS by email

An expert appointed by the MPS assesses the compliance to the key values and requirements and may visit the production site

The MPS may authorize or deny the use of the label

An expert appointed by the MPS periodically monitors a random sample of products $ authorization may be revoked

Assessment

label granting

Monitoring

Application

MPP PRODUCTS ONLINE DATABASE Pilot phase: 16 products from 7 countries

Mongolia: Felt ornaments

Nepal: Himali Black Lentils, Jumla’s Mixed Beans

India: Purple Rice, Pink Rice, Chamomile Tea

Kyrgyzstan: Dried apricots, Rosehip Tea, Silk&Felt Scarves

Cuba: value chain Analysis

Peru: Blueberry Jam, Goldenberry Jam, Maca Andina

Bolivia: Black Amaranth, Roca del Illimani cheese,

Achocalla cheese

Panama: Ceibal Coffee

THE PRODUCTS OF THE PILOT PHASE

BOLIVIA: NATIVE BLACK AMARANTH Chuquisaca district, 2800m asl

Revival of an ancient variety under threat: despite higher nutritional properties and resistance to drought and pests, almost completely replaced by more productive non-native varieties

#  Training: 200+ people Agro-biodiversity, production, cultivation, storage, transformation

#  Production: 20 producers, 4 communities

50% consumption within families,

10% kept for seed and 40% for sale

INDIA: PINK RICE AND PURPLE RICE Ri-Bhoi basin, State of Meghalaya at 1800 masl

Indigenous crops cultivated by small-scale Indian Himalayan farmers

#  Over 40 farmers involved in trainings on production techniques, agro-biodiversity and sustainable food systems

#  New packaging design

#  Rice varieties are now distributed in selected outlets and 5* hotels

NEPAL: JUMLA’S MIXED BEANS Jumla district 2300m asl

A traditional Nepali mixture of beans with a strong link to the local culture and religious festivities produced in the Sinja Valley

Product Jumla Mixed Bean Year 2015 2016 2017 Quantity Ton  60  75 120 Unit price (1kg) USD 1.20 1.25 1.50 Number of farmers  468  540  600 Number of women  300  300  340

Cultivated manually, high quality but low quantity, fields free of chemicals and pesticides. Under the threat of being replaced by more productive crops.

#  Label helps to fight against fake products #  Producers proud $ upgrade for product #  Increase in price 25% #  Great interest by consumers and

distributors on the MPP narrative Label

PERU: GOLDENBERRY AND BLUEBERRY JAMS Región de Conchucos, 3200m asl

Produced with native berries and processed by a Agribusiness center for youth enterpreneurship

Impacts !  Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture and Commission on

Family Farming interested in adopting the label !  Famers value their products !  Better income for communities !  Increased consumption of local products

Achievements #  Increase in income: 56 % #  Increase in production: 500 to 1200 units/y #  Beneficiaries: 400 rural youth and their families

OUTLOOK – PHASE II

Expand geographical scope

Promotional material for all MPP products Expand scope into

services: ecotourism

Private sector: agreements for distribution

Master on Agro-biodiversity and Climate Change

Strengthen assessment/monitoring mechanism

Thank you!